Tories Block Fairtrade Motion (Surrey Heath Liberal Democrats

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Tories Block Fairtrade Motion

October 21, 2006 6:43 PM

Not flying the flag, but carrying the Banana for Fairtrade!

Support is growing for the campaign lead by Lib Dem Councillors Bob Smith & Fran Bennie to make Camberley a Fairtrade Town. But Conservative Councillors on Surrey Heath Council have block-voted against it!

Community leaders in Surrey Heath are also declaring their support for the campaign, with representatives from the Camberley Society, Surrey Chambers of Commerce and Surrey Heath churches speaking out in favour. Assistance has been offered from the Islamic Centre in Camberley, and invitations to speak in local schools are coming in.

However, at the Surrey Heath Council meeting on 11th October, a motion put forward by Cllrs Bob Smith & Fran Bennie to support the campaign to make Camberley a Fairtrade Town was lost when 21 Conservative Councillors block-voted against it.

Not a single Conservative spoke in the consideration of the item, whilst all Lib Dem, Independent and Labour Councillors voted in favour.

Bob Smith speaking on Fairtrade at Step Out Against Poverty event

"This was shameful behaviour. We were not asking the Council to commit significant funds or efforts, just to support the campaign," said Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson Duncan Clark, "That they could vote in such a cynically political way just 6 days before the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is disgraceful. Michael Gove is already on record as supporting the Fairtrade movement, so I call on him to disown this callous behaviour by his local councillors".

If you would like to show support for the campaign to make Camberley a Fairtrade Town, please sign our petition to Surrey Heath Council. See the Petitions tab on the menu on the home page. For further information, see: http://surreyheathlibdems.org.uk/news/101.html