The MP for Kingston and Surbiton has launched a 'Buy Local, Back Britain' campaign to support local businesses in the wake of Donald Trump's tariffs announced yesterday (Wednesday, 2 April).

Ed Davey MP said that people should "rally round" local businesses at risk from the economic shock caused by Donald Trump's disastrous trade war, including local producers and high street shops.

The Liberal Democrats are also calling on the government to come forward with a raft of measures to help businesses stay afloat and protect Kingston and Surbiton's high streets, including scrapping the jobs tax and overhauling business rates. 

It was recently estimated that Trump's tariffs could wipe out up to 1% of GDP which would push many British businesses to the wall.

The measures announced by the US President last night will see 10% tariffs on UK exports and 25% tariffs on all automotive exports to the US. 

The Liberal Democrats have outlined a number of steps the Government should already be taking to back British businesses in the face of Trump's tariffs and stagnant economic growth.

They included scrapping the growth-crushing jobs tax coming into effect in the coming days and overhauling the broken business rates system to unleash the growth potential of our high-streets and manufacturers. 

The Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey said: "People here in Kingston and Surbiton are deeply concerned about the impact that Donald Trump's disastrous trade war could have on our living standards and local businesses.

"That is why I am launching a 'Buy Local, Back Britain' campaign, to encourage people to play their part in supporting our fantastic local businesses and high street shops at this difficult time.

"The Liberal Democrats are also urging the Government to unleash the potential of our local high streets by reforming business rates and dropping their jobs tax which is set to hammer businesses in the coming days."