"Fairtrade is My Cup of Tea" says Greg Mulholland

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 6th Nov 2003

Leeds North West Parliamentary Spokesperson Greg Mulholland is spearheading the campaign to get Leeds to become Yorkshire's First Fairtrade City.

The campaign is organised by TIDAL (Trade Injustice Debt Action Leeds) and, backed by the Fairtrade Foundation, is trying to get the support of the Council and of local cafes, restaurants and businesses by getting them to serve Fairtrade products. Greg is a TIDAL steering group member and on the Fairtrade City Working Group

Greg, who is councillor for Headingley ward seconded the all party Motion brought before the council on 4 November. The motion was unanimously backed by councilors from all sides and now Leeds City Council is committed to backing the campaign.

On the same day, Greg joined other TIDAL campaigners and local schoolchildren to hand over a petition with 1300 signatures from the people of Leeds to the Lord Mayor.

Cllr Greg Mulholland, "It is great that the whole council is getting behind this campaign and we hope the whole city will too. Leeds people have been very enthusiastic towards the idea of Fairtrade, which means that third world producers are guaranteed a fair price for their goods and can work their own way out of poverty."

Greg adds, "Now we want Leeds to become a Fairtrade City. York, Hull and Bradford are running campaigns and we want Leeds to win the race be the first Fairtrade City in Yorkshire!"

For more information on the Fairtrade City campaign see www.leedstidal.org and Leeds Fair Trade City.