Leeds MP's Back Fair Trading City

All eight Leeds MPs joined together to congratulate Leeds after councillors unanimously voted to make Leeds a Fair Trade City.

Seven of the MPs signed John's House of Commons motion - Hilary Benn MP is not allowed to sign as he is a Cabinet Minister, but he expressed his support for the motion.

“Fair trade is an excellent way we can help the world’s poorest people to help themselves - it’s not just a cup of tea, it’s a bit of global solidarity,” said John Battle. “I congratulate Leeds City Council on their support for fair trade, and all the groups involved in TIDAL (Trade Injustice and Debt Action Leeds) for their magnificent efforts promoting it.

” The House of Commons has served fair trade tea and coffee for several years - and so has John.

The full text of Early Day Motion 1920 “Leeds Fairtrade City” is:

That this House congratulates Leeds City Council's resolution to become a Fairtrade city; further congratulates Trade Injustice and Debt Action Leeds on their tireless campaigning work for fair trade; further congratulates the people of Leeds on buying fair trade goods; notes that the Fairtrade Mark is an independent guarantee that producers in developing countries get a fair deal for their labour; further notes that a wide variety of quality Fairtrade products are available in Leeds and looks forward to Leeds being the first city in Yorkshire to qualify for the Fairtrade Foundation's Fairtrade City Award, once 70 shops and 35 cafés in Leeds stock Fairtrade products.