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Portsmouth MP backs plan to ‘make, buy and sell more in Britain’

Stephen Morgan MP has backed a pledge to make, buy and sell more in Britain and in Portsmouth under a Labour government, as they unveil a plan to raise standards, award more public contracts to British businesses and bring the jobs of the future to the UK.

The Official Opposition has set out in Government it would use the social and environmental stretch clauses in public contracts to raise standards, mirroring the approach taken in other countries including France and the US. As well as raising standards nationally and globally, this move will help boost British business and create new jobs.

New proposals from the Shadow Chancellor would seize the opportunities for the long term of the post-pandemic, post-Brexit economy and help to shape a more secure and resilient future for Britain, especially in the green and tech ideas of the future.

Labour will make more in Britain by giving more public contracts to British companies, big and small, by:

  • Asking every public body to give more contracts to British firms big and small, using stretching social, environmental and labour clauses in contract design to raise standards and spend and make more in Britain.
  • Passing a law requiring public bodies to report on how much they are buying from British businesses including SMEs.
  • Leading a culture change in government, putting the growth of local industries first, and reviewing the pipeline of all major infrastructure projects to explore how to increase the materials made in Britain, upskill workers to get the jobs of the future.

Labour will help bring jobs of the future to Britain, by:

  • Investing in reshoring jobs in the same way we invest in Foreign Direct Investment, by helping every business considering reshoring access the expertise and support they need.
  • Working with colleges and universities to make sure we’re honing the skills and apprenticeships for the jobs of the future.

The Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan, said:

“As we recover from the pandemic, we have a chance to seize new opportunities and shape a new future for Britain and for Portsmouth.

“Labour will get those sectors and our economy firing on all cylinders by giving people new skills for the jobs of the future here in the UK, bringing security and resilience back to our economy and public services, and helping our city’s high streets thrive again.

“This plan announced by the Shadow Chancellor is the right thing to do for Portsmouth, and the right thing to do for Britain”.