Lib-Dems call for "Action, not Self-Congratulation" over seeking Fairtrade status for Wokingham Borough

12.00.00pm GMT Fri 30th Nov 2007

At the Wokingham Borough Council meeting last night, the Liberal Democrats called on the Conservative administration to take action to secure Fairtrade status for Wokingham Borough.

Cllr Prue Bray said, "The Tories themselves called for a debate applauding the Wokingham Fairtrade group for meeting many of the criteria to make Wokingham a Fairtrade borough. We completely agree that the Fairtrade Group should be congratulated but the irony is that the only obstacle in the way of the Fairtrade group gaining Fairtrade status for the borough is the requirement that the Council itself should sign up to Fairtrade.

"The Conservatives have steadfastly refused to do this since I first brought this up in January 2005. Our borough will never receive Fairtrade status while the Conservatives put their foot down over this simple requirement.

"I'm delighted that after almost three years the Conservatives are finally talking positively about Fairtrade, but without action their motion is just an empty gesture. That's why at the next Council meeting the Liberal Democrats will be calling on the Conservative-controlled Council to sign up to Fairtrade."