Harrogate MP Andrew Jones popped in to help out at Harrogate Fairtrade Group’s coffee day at St Peters Church on Saturday morning.
The MP was, for many years, Harrogate Council’s Fairtrade Champion and helped the Harrogate district achieve Fairtrade Borough status. When Mr Jones was elected to Parliament the role was taken on by Councillor Steven Jackson.
Harrogate Borough achieved Fairtrade status in 2006 and Yorkshire was the first Fairtrade Region.
Part of the day was a display of Fairtrade ‘breakfast plates’ designed by local schoolchildren.
Andrew commented:
Even though I stopped being the Council’s Fairtrade Champion when I became an MP, I’ve made a special note to keep in touch with the group, attend events and promote Fairtrade to parliamentary colleagues – in fact I’ve regularly made soup to sell during Fairtrade Fortnight!
Our aim should be to lift poorer countries out of poverty and aid. The best way to do this is by helping them grow trade and help them with economic development projects.
Harrogate Council’s Fairtrade Champion Cllr Steven Jackson added:
I am a passionate believer in Fairtrade which is why I was pleased to take over from Andrew as the Council’s Fairtrade Champion.
Promoting trade with developing countries and levelling the playing field is a key part of ensuring that world poverty is beaten. Even here our purchasing choices can help that process. That is why it is important to raise awareness through events such as this.
