Buy British!

Is it impossible to do?

In these fast-moving days of trade wars and tariffs, when "the news" is nothing more than that of politically motivated "wars" and gloom is predicted throughout the UK, caused by gross wastage of public funds on immigrants, "adult social services", drug abusers, smokers, "rights groups" and all manner of social frippery; it is time for British people to bolster and expedite the wellbeing of our country by concentrating their expenditure, whenever possible, within the UK, especially so if you are in a procurement role of any kind.

I know, because I've tried (for headphones, speakers and shoes), that buying British, i.e actually made in the UK, is nearly impossible (or very expensive very high quality stuff), but please try wherever possible to buy locally produced "stuff"; usually food or services (including holidays) or products clearly marked as made or constructed in the UK. 

One other sure fire way to help the UK is to recycle or upcycle or to purchase old things originally produced in the UK and still serviced by UK workers. Finally (I can hear you saying), if you give to charities, give to smaller regional ones, for they are less likely to absorb your contributions as "running costs" and usually contribute to the UK economy; I donate in this order: Children, parents, housing, debt relief, and education. At the very end of your list should be religion or "pets" or the RNLI (seemingly now no more than a privately funded illegal immigrant collection service for the government).

Your aim should be to keep money and employment in the UK and for one UK industry to feed another producing for a UK market. Major buyers could encourage this change (but of course they rarely do).

To use a British phrase, I know I am "pissing in the wind", but without some pro-active actions by the masses nothing much is going to get better here in the UK.

Things I have recently bought from a (proven) UK manufacturer:

Locally reared, prepared meat, cheese, veg and foods in general

Gardening tools

Shoes

Barbeque wood charcoal

Wine grown and produced in the UK (very good but expensive!)

I gave a little money to a small local UK loans charity 

I gave a little money to a local school uniform swapping charity

I've stopped buying Starbucks and Subway and gone to Greggs! 

Anyway, chin-up! It can only get better (can't it?)