North Devon MP ‘disappointment’ at Government’s refusal to back ‘buy British’ and fight Trump tariffs

North Devon MP Ian Roome has said Liberal Democrats are disappointed at the Government’s rejection of their ‘Buy British’ campaign

The campaign is calling for people in North Devon to buy local products as a way of standing against Donald Trump’s trade war and to back local businesses.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves criticised the campaign as ‘inward looking’ and said that the Government would not be backing the campaign.

Mr Rome said in response that his party would always have the back of local businesses and vowed to continue the campaign.

The 10% tariffs from Mr Trump come on the heels of the Chancellor’s decision to increase National Insurance contributions for employers, a move that, according to research by the Liberal Democrats, could leave the average employee in North Devon worse off by approximately £2,253 by the end of the decade.

Mr Roome said: “Businesses here in North Devon will be feeling a real sense of disappointment that the Government has refused to back them in their time of need.

“Many of our local businesses are really worried about the damage that Trump’s trade war will do, especially after being hammered by the Chancellor’s jobs tax coming into force just days ago.

“I know people in our community are ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with businesses here in North Devon in their hour of need and ‘Buy British’. We Liberal Democrats will always have our local businesses’ backs and join with them to stand up to Trump’s assault on the global economy.”