Jon Cruddas MP has today joined Labour's pledge to make, buy and sell more in Britain and under a future Labour government. The party has unveiled a plan to raise standards, award more public contracts to British businesses and bring the jobs of the future to areas like Dagenham and Rainham.
The policy seeks to use the social and environmental stretch clauses in public contracts to raise standards, mirroring the approach taken in other countries including France and the US. As well as raising standards nationally, this move will help boost British business and create new jobs.
Jon Cruddas MP said: "As we recover from the pandemic, we have a unique chance to seize new opportunities and shape a new future for Britain and for the people of Dagenham and Rainham. In my constituency there is so much potential to build the jobs of tomorrow, and we are already making headway with the film studios at Dagenham East, and London's three historic markets coming to Dagenham Dock.
"Labour will get our economy firing on all cylinders by giving people new skills for the jobs of the future here in the UK, bringing security and resilience back to our economy and public services, and helping our high streets thrive again."
Making more in Britain by giving more public contracts to British companies by:
- - Asking every public body to give more contracts to British firms big and small, using stretching social, environmental and labour clauses in contract design to raise standards and spend and make more in Britain.
- - Passing a law requiring public bodies to report on how much they are buying from British businesses including SMEs.
- - Leading a culture change in government, putting the growth of local industries first, and reviewing the pipeline of all major infrastructure projects to explore how to increase the materials made in Britain, upskill workers to get the jobs of the future.
Bringing jobs of the future to Britain, by:
- - Investing in reshoring jobs in the same way we invest in Foreign Direct Investment, by helping every business considering reshoring access the expertise and support they need.
- - Working with colleges and universities to make sure we're honing the skills and apprenticeships for the jobs of the future.
Labour's new proposal will create opportunities for the long term of the post-pandemic, post-Brexit economy and help to shape a more secure and resilient future for Britain, especially in the green and tech ideas of the future.