Sue Doughty MP champions Fairtrade Fortnight

11.12.43am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 3rd Mar 2005

Strong supporter of Fairtrade, local Lib Dem MP Sue Doughty, is promoting Fairtrade events around Guildford as Fairtrade Fortnight kicked off today.

On Monday 28 February, Sue visited Tillingbourne School, which is a Fairtrade school, to speak to the assembly about the importance of ethical trading (see photograph attached).

Sue said, "It's great to see schools getting involved with Fairtrade. We need to inform kids at an early age about what they're eating and wearing, where it came from and who produced it. The only way we can make a real difference is through consumer power. If more and more kids grow up buying ethical products, then we really can make an impact and force big businesses to think about their trading ethics."

Sue also visited the Guildford Borough Council Faitrade stall in the farmers' market on the High Street today (see second photograph attached). Guildford is in the process of becoming a Fairtrade town, which Sue has been advocating for some time.

There will be a Fairtrade event on Saturday 5 March in the High Street and Sue will also be visiting St Peters School in Merrow on 11 March to talk about Fairtrade.

Sue said, "Fairtrade Fortnight is particularly exciting this year as trade is a key element of the Make Poverty History campaign. 2005 offers an unprecedented opportunity for global change with the UK hosting the G8 and taking over presidency of the EU. I have had many constituents contacting me about the campaign and wanting to get involved. It's great to see the people of Guildford at the forefront of such an excellent and worthwhile cause."