Downing Street has declined to officially back a ‘buy British’ campaign in response to Donald Trump’s tariffs on the UK, with Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson noting the UK was “an open-trading nation” and the government was “not going to tell people where they buy their stuff”.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves added, “In terms of buying British, I think everyone will make their own decisions.
"What we don’t want to see is a trade war, with Britain becoming inward-looking, because if every country in the world decided that they only wanted to buy things produced in their country, that is not a good way forward.”
The statements came after a poll commissioned by the Liberal Democrats showed that half of UK adults have said they are now less likely to buy American products in the wake of the tariff.
Almost six in 10 (59 per cent) stated they would support a campaign to buy more British-made goods following the US president’s unleashing of the trade war.
Those of pension age were the most likely to say they would support a Buy British campaign, with 81 per cent of those aged 65+ saying they backed such a movement. Just 13% of the public said they would oppose a campaign of this nature.
After the release of the survey results, the Liberal Democrats called on the government to launch a ‘Buy British’ campaign to urge people to shop local and back British-made goods. In Canada, a recent ‘Buy Canadian’ movement has seen a surge in people buying locally produced goods.
The Liberal Democrats said the poll showed the public was “appalled by Donald Trump’s destructive trade war” and called on the government to support its campaign.
The party also said that Ministers needed to unleash the growth potential of British businesses by scrapping their jobs tax, overhauling the broken business rates system and ruling out a trade deal that undercuts British farmers.
“Many people are appalled by Donald Trump’s destructive trade war and want to back local businesses and producers in their time of need. The Government needs to listen to the public and launch a ‘Buy British’ campaign as part of a national effort to back British businesses,” said Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP.
“Ministers need to also rally behind our farming communities and support fantastic home-grown British produce, by ruling out any deal with Trump that undercuts the high food and animal welfare standards upheld by our British farmers.
“This would send a collective message to the White House that we are not prepared to simply cower in the corner while Donald Trump takes a wrecking ball to people’s jobs and living standards.”
