To ask how important it is to buy things made in your own country?

[FortunesFave]

To you I mean.

Do you ever choose something over another item because it says it was "Made in England" or wherever you live?

If so, what are your reasons?

I try to avoid certain countries - China, Scotland, Russia, Eastern Europe - but generally I don't really care about where something is from as long as it's cheap.

I don't really care about the environment by the way, but I do think it's hypocritical when people who do care about it are happy to have their shopping shipped half way around the world.

I do try my best with this one. I put a list of what's in season each month on our fridge door beside the shopping list and then try to base recipes around these.

I also try not be driven to buy new things because of trends. People buy a lot of clothes and things for the house that they don't actually NEED but they are buying because it's "in" at the moment.

I think being able to do so is a luxury many cannot afford. We buy meat from Goodwood, we raise our own village pigs, I buy crab and fish directly from the fishery in Cornwall. It’s all high quality but also more expensive than Iceland or Asda.

It’s not only the price of the goods, is it? You need a car and email facilities. You need good cold storage. You need to buy high end goods not chicken nuggets.

Personally I was very happy with French wine, French and Dutch cheeses and Wild Geese whisky.

It's interesting that almost everyone is only discussing food and drink...rather than other products.

Wouldn't you like to see more things being produced in the UK? It would mean more work for people.

I don’t think manufacturing is going to suddenly become a thing in the U.K. no

@FortunesFave

It's interesting that almost everyone is only discussing food and drink...rather than other products.

Wouldn't you like to see more things being produced in the UK? It would mean more work for people.

I'm on the lookout for sheepskin stuff and have been looking at producers in Scotland. I bought my reusable nappies from a Scottish company.

We don't manufacture much in the UK, and when we do we import materials/parts from elsewhere a lot of the time. Usually a lot more expensive too.

I'd like to buy English wine, especially as there are 3 vineyards within about 12 miles of where I live, but my god, the price of it! I still only buy from Europe though, no wine that has crossed an ocean crosses my threshold.

Why can't we make more in the UK though?

@felulageller

I buy Scottish whenever possible. Everything else I try to buy as close as possible eg European over other wines to reduce as food miles. But I also pick UK/ EU to get reassurance about workers rights.

Ethical shopping is very important to me.

Did you know there is no EU right to a minimum wage?

@TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe

I try to avoid certain countries - China, Scotland, Russia, Eastern Europe - but generally I don't really care about where something is from as long as it's cheap.

I don't really care about the environment by the way, but I do think it's hypocritical when people who do care about it are happy to have their shopping shipped half way around the world.

Interesting - why do you avoid Scotland?

@BrumBoo

Recently bought a new pram from a British company. They're obviously proud of this fact, as they've stamped 'British Made' in huge letters all over what is otherwise a lovely pram. If I'd known, I'd have bought something else, I'm all for supporting UK companies but I'm going to be a tad embarrassed pushing around the Brexit-Mobile......

@BrumBoo sadly the only Prams actually built in the UK are silver cross coach built prams. There are plenty of manufacturers who boldly stamp and scream about “great British design!!” (Looking at you Cosatto and joie in particular!!) but actually - all pushchairs available in uk are made in China.

For car seats, the only car seats actually manufactured in the uk are Britax - then only some are made in uk, the rest in Germany. Pushchairs China.

@FortunesFave

Why can't we make more in the UK though?

We could, but (some) things would be more expensive. We still have to import most raw materials.

I agree we really should be much more environmentally conscious.
In the Brexit debate, the Guardian did a piece about the camshaft in a Mini engine which crosses the channel 5 times in the course of the construction of the car - there is no possible way that is beneficial in terms of emissions.

I use local business and farm shops as mush as I can.

Unfortunately it's become common nd tredy since the 1970s for people to avoid anything made here as if it is automatically bad - eg cars.

I buy Irish if possible.
It means more jobs, so the tax burden can be shared.
Bord Bia, the Irish food board promotes Irish produced food / food of Irish origin and has a little logo that is placed on the packaging of Irish products.

@flappityflippers1 fair enough! Even more irritating they're plastered in this writing then . Still calling it the Brexit Buggy....

@BrumBoo

Recently bought a new pram from a British company. They're obviously proud of this fact, as they've stamped 'British Made' in huge letters all over what is otherwise a lovely pram. If I'd known, I'd have bought something else, I'm all for supporting UK companies but I'm going to be a tad embarrassed pushing around the Brexit-Mobile......

Why on earth is that embarrasing?

Have you visited anywhere else in the EU?

Notice any Non-French Police and emergency vehicles in France?

Any non- German cop cars in Germany?

Most of the rest of Europe buys their own stuff by default and wouldn't imagine it coudl be "embarrasing" in any way.

@BrumBoo brexit buggy could actually become a thing tbf if anyone is quick enough to make one in the uk 🙈

@LakieLady

I'd like to buy English wine, especially as there are 3 vineyards within about 12 miles of where I live, but my god, the price of it! I still only buy from Europe though, no wine that has crossed an ocean crosses my threshold.

Would you mind sharing the company names? I'd love try an English wine.

Someone making your toys, pushchairs, furniture etc in the UK will be paid £25k+ whereas someone in a low cost country will be paid closer to £5k. Plus the increased land value means the factory itself will cost more to run. That will be reflected in the price and there simply aren't enough people prepared to pay extra.

@FortunesFave

Why can't we make more in the UK though?

Do you want to do that sort of work?

I do with local food.
Dad was always insistent on buying Irish throughout the big recession in the 80's.

I try and buy local and seasonal produce, where practical, yes.

For other items, as well as cost, I often consider whether I need it new, where I buy it, how quickly I need it (if I need it not just want it) and who made it.

I'm a bit more choosy about which retailers get my money now.

I made a conscious effort to search out Irish small business suppliers during lockdown too.

Petty, I know, but I always buy food labelled British rather than Scottish, if there is a choice, and particularly go for products with a union jack on the packaging!
I’m English, a staunch Unionist, and have lived in Scotland for 45 years.
When the SNP were screaming for a boycott of Tunnocks tea cakes, for daring to label them British, I bought extra. So did a lot of people - sales went up 33%.
With non food items there is rarely a truly British option, as so much manufacturing has been outsourced to cheaper factories abroad.

Yifa, what sort of work do you mean? I've worked low paid jobs (picking grapes, amongst others) in England. Much of the UK is rural.