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Final push to stop supermarket bullying

Supermarkets: off their trolleyAs a result of sustained campaigning by War on Want and other allies, the UK government has committed itself to creating a watchdog that will prevent British supermarkets from bullying suppliers.

Last year the government published a draft Bill to create this watchdog (called the Groceries Code Adjudicator). Now we need to urgently pressure the government to get it passed into law, and to make sure it has teeth.

The government is now working on a list of bills for inclusion in the Queen's Speech in May - these are the ones that will be considered by parliament over the following year. The government has promised the supermarket watchdog bill will be included - but supermarkets are lobbying frantically for it to be dropped. This is a vital moment to get the watchdog into law, and to stop supermarket abuse of their economic power - please ask your MP to press the government to include the bill.

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Dear ____,

I would like to ask you, as my MP, to help ensure that a Bill introducing a supermarket watchdog (or ‘Groceries Code Adjudicator’, GCA) is included in the next Queen’s Speech.

This is a matter of urgency. It is four years since the Competition Commission concluded that supermarkets transfer ‘excessive risks and unexpected costs’ to their suppliers and that this behaviour also harms consumers.

In that time, many UK and overseas farmers have continued to face uneconomic prices and unfair terms for their produce. Agricultural employees have continued to work long hours for poverty wages in unsafe conditions. And many farmers have been prevented from investing in sustainable farming practices.

The introduction of a GCA has cross party support and is backed by a broad coalition of civil society, including War on Want, Friends of the Earth, ActionAid, National Farmers Union, Traidcraft, the Food Ethics Council and the Fairtrade Foundation. A recent poll found that 84% of consumers also support the introduction of a watchdog.

A draft GCA Bill already exists and has been examined by two select committees.

I would be grateful if you could write to the Minister responsible, the Rt Hon Vince Cable, asking him to ensure that:

  • A Bill introducing a Groceries Code Adjudicator is included in the next Queen’s Speech , or parliamentary time found for it before then
  • The Adjudicator has the power to fine supermarkets
  • The Adjudicator can launch investigations based on credible evidence from third parties such as trade associations, unions and charities

I would also greatly appreciate it if you would consider other actions in Parliament, such as tabling questions to Ministers and raising this issue in Business Questions.
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Tags: campaigns | fighting supermarket power