'Time to force our Army and NHS to buy British first'

THE NHS and Armed Forces should be ordered to "buy British" to protect jobs, a senior Tory has warned.

- By Katie Harris

Sir John Hayes called for the public sector to “lead by example” by supporting domestic businesses.

The veteran Conservative MP for South Holland and The Deepings, in Lincolnshire, hit out at globalisation and said it was affecting companies in the UK.

Sir John made the comments as he backed the Daily Express’s It’s Time to Buy British campaign.

He said: “British institutions, funded by British taxes, should be mandated to buy British.

“Our public sector from government departments to local councils, from the armed services to the NHS should lead by example, supporting local economies by purchasing British goods, so ensuring food security, traceability, and adherence to the highest quality standards.

“Globalisation, fed by a stubborn commitment to unfair so-called ‘free’ trade, certainly benefits greedy multi-national corporations, only to the detriment of British industries and British workers. To make our kingdom secure we must prioritise our own businesses.