Labour leader Ed Miliband in call to buy British

ED Miliband is expected to call on the Government to bolster British business with a more patriotic economic policy.

He will say that successive administrations have failed to grasp how important “pride and patriotism” are to ensuring the country’s manufacturing sector can flourish and create jobs for the economy.

He will also back calls for a Made in Britain mark to celebrate goods produced in the UK.

In a speech to the EEF National Manufacturing Conference in London, Mr Miliband will argue that a strong manufacturing base is central to the “responsible capitalism” the Government must encourage in the wake of the financial crisis.

He will say the Government should be more supportive of UK manufacturing and engineering centres, even when they are foreign owned.

There has been anger recently that thousands of jobs at Canadian-owned Bombardier in Derby were put on the line after an important contract to build Thameslink trains was awarded to German rival Siemens.

Mr Miliband will say today: “We should not be embarrassed about the need for more patriotism in our economic policy. It is patriotic to have an active government using all the means at its disposal to give competitive British firms every chance to succeed.”

Backing an initiative by Merseyside-based kitchen appliance firm Stoves for a new Made in Britain mark, Mr Miliband will say they are “three words we don’t hear enough, or see enough”.

He will say the campaign should have cross-party and Government support.