Big up for James Eden and Lulu Lyttle. Daily Mail slags off British manufacturing.

I had some idea that support for British manufacturing was a given for all sides of political spectrum.

I mean, people might never actually buy British, but they at least support the notion of doing so. Or so I thought.

But not the Daily Mail, which instead of applauding the PM for wearing British made clothes raged ‘man of the people Andy Burnham’s down-to-earth outfits are actually designer -including an £80 T-shirt- that’s more than he cut electricity bills by’.

What they failed to point out was that his clothes are often made in Manchester by a brand called Private White VC, and the reason that they are expensive is not because they are ‘designer’ (why is that word pejorative by the way?) but because the people that make them are paid fair wages, work in safe conditions, get proper paid holidays and lunch breaks; and their employers pay council tax and NI and yada yada bloody yada.

Goodness, it’s infuriating.

It was the same when the press of all stripes piled onto Lulu Lyttle and her brilliant business Soane when there was talk of her wallpaper being used in Downing Street. The story became about the paper being gilded and not that it was handmade in Britain by skilled artisans who are paid well and work in decent conditions; or that Mrs Lyttle has made it her life mission to support struggling British crafts.

So, big up to James Eden of Private White and Lulu Lyttle. Thank you, too.

Now, think about this: 580 million school uniform items are sold in the UK each year. Virtually none are made in this country, though 83% of schools mandate the use of uniforms.

Imagine, for a moment, if a government insisted that 10% -or better 20%- of these uniforms were made here.

That would mean jobs, and happy communities and economic growth and meaning and happiness and quality of life and definitely better quality of goods.

Imagine the same for the military, NHS etc.

This policy might not save the UK economy, but boy would it make a difference. And yet we just sit by and allow the vituperative Daily Mail and its ilk to slag off British manufacturing while the world drowns in an ocean of cheap and completely shite clothing. Free trade is on some levels noble, but a little intervention goes a long way.

We are genuinely trying to do our bit here and I can assure you that it is not very easy because, on some levels, I get the sense that we are approaching the point of no return.

But if you support us then we can support others. I really don’t think that this business is going to make us anything approaching rich, but it gives us such deep pleasure and a strong sense of purpose and it brings meaning and money to manufacturers and craftspeople who are vital to the social as well as economic health of our nation.

If you agree with me, consider buying from us. Everything that we sell is beautiful too.

All my best from my desk in the garden.

Charlie X