The London Assembly has called on Boris Johnson to urge all boroughs to support the Fairtrade campaign.
Members agreed1 a motion congratulating the 20 London boroughs that have already achieved Fairtrade Borough status and welcomed the capital’s achievement of Fairtrade City status.
However, the Assembly called on the Mayor to encourage the remaining 13 London boroughs2 to work with residents, visitors, businesses, the public and the voluntary sector to increase the availability and take up of Fairtrade products.
Proposing the motion, Darren Johnson AM, told the Assembly: "This Assembly agreed a motion a year ago calling on the former Mayor to encourage boroughs to achieve Fairtrade status and I am pleased that more than half are now fully-fledged Fairtrade boroughs. We now need a final push to encourage the remaining boroughs to play their part in this worthwhile scheme. Fair trade can literally transform the lives
of millions of people."
Murad Qureshi AM, who seconded the motion, said: "This motion is not about telling the boroughs what to do – this is about encouraging boroughs to do the right thing. Fairtrade status is about ensuring we give farmers a fair price and a fair deal for the commodities they provide. Fairtrade is not a challenge to free trade but an important part of it, reducing the middle men and linking consumers with producers more directly."
The full text of the motion is as follows:
"The Assembly welcomes London’s achievement of Fairtrade City status. It congratulates the 20 London boroughs that have achieved Fairtrade Borough status and recognises the work of many individuals and organisations in achieving this.
The Assembly urges the Mayor to contact the remaining 13 London boroughs to urge them to support the Fairtrade campaign by passing Fairtrade resolutions and by working with residents, visitors, businesses, and the public and voluntary sectors to increase availability and take up of Fairtrade marked products."