Buy British: our salvation?
Discussion
Interesting piece on BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-1555181
reminded me of the I'm Backing Britain campaign. It was a cockup back then but surely the timing is spot on to bring this back now. Don't just make it a 'please buy British' exercise this time but regulate it in some way so it's in our interest to do the right thing, starting with basic foodstuffs. It's ridiculous that we're still importing apples from the other side of the world and still expecting to eat strawberries in December. Let's go back to how it used to be and restart a production economy in this country.
If globalism is the problem, localism might be the cure.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-1555181
reminded me of the I'm Backing Britain campaign. It was a cockup back then but surely the timing is spot on to bring this back now. Don't just make it a 'please buy British' exercise this time but regulate it in some way so it's in our interest to do the right thing, starting with basic foodstuffs. It's ridiculous that we're still importing apples from the other side of the world and still expecting to eat strawberries in December. Let's go back to how it used to be and restart a production economy in this country.
If globalism is the problem, localism might be the cure.
I've always tried to back the UK by buying British bikes, cars, white goods etc. Makes you aware of nationalism when you go to France and see that 90% (thats a guestimate) of the cars on the road are French.
The Brits are always critical of their own manufacturing standards, but whens the last time you saw a Brit motor stranded at the side of the road?
The Brits are always critical of their own manufacturing standards, but whens the last time you saw a Brit motor stranded at the side of the road?
Not saying it's going to happen overnight, or in all areas, but we could certainly COULD make tellies if we wanted to. We used to. Start with the basics like food and clothing and take it from there. If new businesses were encouraged and supported we could easily be self-sufficient at least. Wind back the conditioning on food choices that supermarkets have forced onto us and bring back all our own sadly-missed and delicious varieties of fruit and veg.
macar said:
I've always tried to back the UK by buying British bikes, cars, white goods etc. Makes you aware of nationalism when you go to France and see that 90% (thats a guestimate) of the cars on the road are French.
The Brits are always critical of their own manufacturing standards, but whens the last time you saw a Brit motor stranded at the side of the road?
To be fair I struggle to remember the last time I saw a British car driving on the road.The Brits are always critical of their own manufacturing standards, but whens the last time you saw a Brit motor stranded at the side of the road?
We definitely have the people here to design cars, and the manufacturing technology is now universal, so 'the Red Robbo' era of shoddy workmanship isn't a factor any more. I do believe that of all the European countries we have better conditions and better abilities to dig ourselves out of a hole.
tonym911 said:
We definitely have the people here to design cars, and the manufacturing technology is now universal, so 'the Red Robbo' era of shoddy workmanship isn't a factor any more. I do believe that of all the European countries we have better conditions and better abilities to dig ourselves out of a hole.
I was trying to be difficult when I mentioned TVs, but I do agree with you.I would like to back a 'buy British' campaign - it's just so hard to. On Saturday I went to a farm shop, and ended up buying French cheese as well as British!
tonym911 said:
. . . reminded me of the I'm Backing Britain campaign. It was a cockup back then . . .
Why was it a cockup? It certainly made a lot of people, including shopkeepers and manufacturers, identify and publicise source. It was pointed out that it would help the country and many people made the informed choice. My parents did and ensured that I followed suit. The buy British bit followed on after the backing bit and was more successful. I used to work as a printer then and had taped to the front of my keyboard a sign which read: If each day you do a little more than is expected of you, pretty soon more will be expected of you. I was told to take it down by my shop steward (father of the chapel) as it was felt inappropriate.It was, at least at the level of working class people, a major movement.
Derek Smith said:
tonym911 said:
. . . reminded me of the I'm Backing Britain campaign. It was a cockup back then . . .
Why was it a cockup? It certainly made a lot of people, including shopkeepers and manufacturers, identify and publicise source. It was pointed out that it would help the country and many people made the informed choice. My parents did and ensured that I followed suit. The buy British bit followed on after the backing bit and was more successful. I used to work as a printer then and had taped to the front of my keyboard a sign which read: If each day you do a little more than is expected of you, pretty soon more will be expected of you. I was told to take it down by my shop steward (father of the chapel) as it was felt inappropriate.It was, at least at the level of working class people, a major movement.
I think a buy British campaign would be a good idea. It wouldn't work, of course, but that's no reason not to try.
Those who would seek to benefit from it need to be consistent though. For instance, anyone who makes stuff in the UK and wants people to buy it because of that needs to think carefully when making their own buying decisions
Those who would seek to benefit from it need to be consistent though. For instance, anyone who makes stuff in the UK and wants people to buy it because of that needs to think carefully when making their own buying decisions
crofty1984 said:
rhinochopig said:
To be fair I struggle to remember the last time I saw a British car driving on the road.
Nissan Juke, Micra and QuashqauaiaiaQwoo are designed built here are they not? More British than an Indian built Morris Oxford or Royal Enfield I'd argue.I've been buying British-made New Balance trainers for years.
£80 for third-world Nikes/Adidas/Reebok or less than half that for Cumbrian made NBs. A no-brainer for me.
I drive a British-made Japanese car (best of both worlds?
) as my daily driver, and the wife drives a Jaaag.
I try to buy British when available, don't know why I do this, always have, always will.
It IS possible, even these days, to buy British in most areas, it just requires a bit of research, that's all.
Somethings you just can't get, like a British-made TV for example (Sanyo 2008) or a mobile phone (Motorola Startac 1997
) but most things can still be done.
Cookers, 'fridges, ovens, furniture, beds, mattresses, clothing, all reasonably easy to get hold of, and most importantly well made and decently priced.
£70 for Pakistani Levis jeans, or £70 for British-made Oliver Spencer jeans?
Anyway, enough rambling by me
£80 for third-world Nikes/Adidas/Reebok or less than half that for Cumbrian made NBs. A no-brainer for me.
I drive a British-made Japanese car (best of both worlds?
) as my daily driver, and the wife drives a Jaaag.I try to buy British when available, don't know why I do this, always have, always will.
It IS possible, even these days, to buy British in most areas, it just requires a bit of research, that's all.
Somethings you just can't get, like a British-made TV for example (Sanyo 2008) or a mobile phone (Motorola Startac 1997
) but most things can still be done.Cookers, 'fridges, ovens, furniture, beds, mattresses, clothing, all reasonably easy to get hold of, and most importantly well made and decently priced.
£70 for Pakistani Levis jeans, or £70 for British-made Oliver Spencer jeans?
Anyway, enough rambling by me
I want to buy the best value product.
Value being a factor of quality and price.
I will always try to buy food locally, if it only has a slight price differential.
For other items, like electronics/TV/domestic appliances, I will read reviews, and pick the one that best meets my needs. I don't give a monkey's arse whether it comes from Britain or Timbuktu. If the British products can match the quality and price of items coming from outside, then there is a good chance I will end up with a British product. Otherwise, no chance.
After having paid 40-50% tax on earnings to begin with, I am not going to give away more money due to some misplaced feeling of nationalism.
Value being a factor of quality and price.
I will always try to buy food locally, if it only has a slight price differential.
For other items, like electronics/TV/domestic appliances, I will read reviews, and pick the one that best meets my needs. I don't give a monkey's arse whether it comes from Britain or Timbuktu. If the British products can match the quality and price of items coming from outside, then there is a good chance I will end up with a British product. Otherwise, no chance.
After having paid 40-50% tax on earnings to begin with, I am not going to give away more money due to some misplaced feeling of nationalism.
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