If you source locally, are you taking business away from those in poorer countries who may need the income more? Or is your responsibility to local (in this case UK) suppliers in a bid not only to maintain our industries but also to reduce the impact on the environment? And by boycotting those companies that exploit said suppliers in far flung places are you making a point that will lead them to pulling their socks up, or merely to abandoning them entirely?
This conundrum has always genuinely bewildered me, and I regularly ask others their opinions (although rather irritatingly, no doubt, you can always point out the counter-argument to EVERY valid point that can be made).
Behind this is the assumption that the purchaser will have the disposable cash to actually pay more for local (almost always the case). For those that can't afford to pay more, are they doomed to buying goods/services that are cheap and exploitative...?
