PRESS RELEASE
Issued by:
Councillor Stuart Kelly
Leader, Liberal Democrat Group
Date of Issue: February 26th 2007
Contact number: 0151 653 9077

Liberal Democrats  - Making Wirral a fairer borough

Liberal Democrats in Wirral have welcomed Fairtrade Fortnight and reaffirmed their commitment to keeping Wirral a Fairtrade Borough.

Wirral Council was granted Fairtrade status by the Fairtrade Foundation in April 2006 following all-party support in 2004 for a Liberal Democrat proposal to make Wirral a Fairtrade Borough.

There are five conditions Wirral met to gain Fairtrade status:

• Wirral council passed a resolution supporting Fairtrade, and serve Fairtrade coffee and tea at its meetings and in offices and canteens;
• A range of Fairtrade products are readily available in Wirral's shops and served in local cafés and catering establishments;
• Fairtrade products are used by a number of local work places and community organisations;
• Fairtrade has been supported in the local media and by local people;
• A local Fairtrade steering group has been convened to ensure continued commitment to Fairtrade Borough status.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Cllr Stuart Kelly, said,

“I'm proud of the fact that Wirral agreed to become a Fairtrade borough in 2004.

“The Fairtrade Mark guarantees a fair and stable price to farmers in developing countries, it also guarantees consumers a top-quality and environmentally-friendly product. It's such a simple and direct way to make a big difference to the lives of poor families in developing countries.

“It's better to help people support themselves through trade than handouts from the government. Fairtrade is a hand-up, not a hand-out.”

Click here for the Liberal Democrat motion to Council April 2004 to make Wirral a Fairtrade Borough

Click here for Fairtrade website list of all Fairtrade Councils (PDF file)