Sunday 28 February 2010

Printed in Cornwall?

Mebyon Kernow has challenged all political parties standing in Cornwall at the coming General Election to make sure that their election leaflets are printed in Cornwall.

We have also criticised the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives for failing to support local businesses by having campaign literature printed ‘up-country.’ Both parties have spent a small fortune on leaflets and election literature in recent months, but sadly have often used printing firms based outside of Cornwall.

Taking the new St Austell and Newquay constituency, where I am standing, as an example, the Royal Mail has already delivered numerous Lib Dem and Tory leaflets to local residents during the last 12 months or so. This literature contains the normal soundbites about fighting for local people and campaigning for Cornwall - but they seem to have a problem with using local businesses.

Some of the material from the Conservative candidate was produced in Surrey, but not one of the ten Liberal Democrat leaflets (which we have copies of) were printed in Cornwall. Three were printed in Devon, three in Dorset, two in London and two in Peterborough.

It is my view that all politicians who want to represent Cornwall in parliament should be helping to sustain local businesses in our villages and towns.

Our pledge is a simple one. Every leaflet, booklet and every single piece of literature produced by Mebyon Kernow for the General Election will be printed here in Cornwall. I hope that the other parties will follow our example.

2 comments:

Jude Robinson said...

HI Dick, all our Labour leaflets are being printed in Cornwall, in house at the moment with paper bought in.

During the general, some of this may be different due to admin issues, but we will do all we can to make sure the majority of our literature is printed locally.

Jude Robinson said...

Meant to say, with paper bought in locally!