John Battle meets Trade Justice Campaigners

John Battle, Labour MP for Leeds West, welcomed local trade justice campaigners to parliament today who were backing the Trade Justice Movement and Make Poverty History coalition campaigns mass lobby of parliament.

“I do very strongly support this excellent campaign, there is no point in offering a tea spoon of aid with one hand if the other hand of unfair trade rules grips the throat” said Mr Battle, “and I know from the number of people who write to me about it how many of my constituents support it too. I probably get more post about this than any other political issue.” Mr Battle said, “I am delighted to welcome campaigners from Leeds West and thank them for coming all the way down to Westminster to lobby parliament on behalf of the campaign making a great personal effort to come here.”

John Battle went onto say “This is a key moment for MPs to reflect the wealth of public support for the Trade Justice Movements demands for trade justice, - 190 MPs have so far supported EDM 679 which I have tabled supporting this issue and I hope many more will sign up to supporting this initiative. John Battle went onto say “December’s meeting is a good way to build on this summer’s strong lobbying and commitments made by the G8 and ensure a long and lasting commitment to trade justice that will help end poverty by allowing developing countries to use trade policies to protect the livelihoods of their poor farmers and develop their own sustainable economic strength.”

Text of EDM 679 That this House believes that trade justice is vital if making poverty history is to be achieved; notes that December's World Trade Organisation (WTO) summit presents a key moment in the Doha Development Round; believes that the UK Government should not push developing countries to open up their markets but should respect their right to decide on trade policies that will help them end poverty, respect workers' rights and protect their environment; and calls on the Government to work with its partners in the European Union to change the European Commissioner's approach in order to ensure that WTO agreements allow developing countries to use trade policies to protect the livelihoods of their poor farmers and develop their own sustainable economic strength, and to choose the best policies for poor people and the environment in services such as water, health and education.

©John Battle MP 02 November 2005