Annabelle Ewing Champions Fair Trade and Ethical Procurement Standards
Annabelle Ewing, the Scottish National Party candidate for Ochil and South Perthshire, has built her political platform around values that extend well beyond borders. Among her priorities is a firm commitment to fair trade principles and ethical procurement practices that place transparency, worker welfare, and environmental responsibility at the centre of how public money is spent.
Her campaign recognises that procurement decisions shape supply chains, influence labour conditions, and signal what counts as acceptable business behaviour. Drawing on her experience as a solicitor and her previous tenure at Westminster, Ewing has argued that Scotland can lead the way in changing how governments and institutions purchase goods, food, and services. Her campaign outlines these priorities at her campaign platform, where voters can see how her principles translate into policy goals for the region.
A Policy Framework Built on Transparency
Ewing's approach centres on tightening supply chain due diligence for any organisation receiving public funds. She has consistently supported legislation requiring companies bidding for government contracts to disclose their sourcing practices, including raw material origins and subcontractor arrangements. This mirrors movements in cities like Brisbane and Melbourne, where local councils have begun demanding fair trade certifications for tea, coffee, and uniforms used in civic offices.
In her parliamentary work, Ewing backed amendments aimed at curbing modern slavery in procurement pipelines, an issue that resonates strongly with Australians familiar with the Modern Slavery Act passed in their own federal parliament in 2018. Both jurisdictions face similar questions about how to verify claims of ethical production when goods pass through multiple intermediaries before reaching a hospital, school, or council depot.
Trade Justice as a Local and Global Concern
Trade justice is not a vague slogan in Ewing's vocabulary. She frames it as a concrete commitment to ensuring producers in developing nations receive a fair share of the final retail price. Her advocacy aligns with a broader international push that has seen Australian consumers drive demand for fairly traded bananas, cocoa, and cotton, particularly through retail cooperatives in Adelaide and Perth.
Ewing has also highlighted how Scottish producers can model ethical behaviour abroad. By championing certifications and labelling standards at home, she argues Scotland can export both goods and moral credibility. This approach echoes efforts in Sydney's hospitality sector, where restaurants increasingly list the provenance of their coffee beans and seafood on menus, giving diners the information needed to choose responsibly.
Public Procurement as a Lever for Reform
| Approach Area | Scotland (Ewing's Proposal) | United Kingdom (Current) | Australia (Federal/State) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supply chain disclosure | Mandatory for major contracts | Voluntary reporting | Mandatory under Modern Slavery Act |
| Worker pay verification | Required for textile and food contracts | Limited sectoral coverage | Required in some state tenders |
| Environmental criteria | Weighted scoring in tendering | Optional green procurement notes | Carbon-neutral commitments in NSW and Victoria |
| Small producer access | Set-aside quotas for local suppliers | No formal quota system | Indigenous procurement policies in several agencies |
For Ewing, public procurement represents one of the most powerful tools available to a devolved government. Every contract signed by a council, health board, or university shapes demand for products made under specific conditions. She has argued that organisations receiving public funds should be required to source from suppliers who meet baseline labour and environmental standards, an approach already piloted in parts of New South Wales and Victoria.
Worker Rights and Supply Chain Visibility
Protecting worker rights sits at the heart of Ewing's procurement agenda. She supports stronger enforcement powers for regulators and clearer obligations for businesses to audit the conditions under which their goods are produced. These concerns are shared by Australian unions and community organisations that have campaigned for greater accountability in industries ranging out of the Pilbara mining region to the textile workshops supplying major retailers.
Her position also reflects awareness of how vulnerable migrant workers and smallholder farmers can be exploited when traceability breaks down. Ewing has called for digital product passports, a system that would allow buyers to trace a product from raw material to finished item. Comparable traceability pilots are running in Australian agricultural sectors, particularly for wool and seafood, where provenance is becoming a marketable feature.
Engaging Business and Empowering Consumers
Beyond legislation, Ewing emphasises the importance of building relationships with ethical businesses and informed consumers. Her campaign regularly engages with local producers in Ochil and South Perthshire who already meet fair trade criteria, encouraging them to share their stories and model best practice.
Core policy priorities Ewing promotes:
- Mandatory human rights due diligence for firms bidding on public contracts
- A Scottish fair trade mark recognised across UK and export markets
- Increased transparency on subcontracting arrangements in food and textile supply chains
- Support for small and cooperative producers competing against large multinational suppliers
Practical steps Ewing encourages for everyday consumers:
- Choosing products with recognised fair trade certification labels
- Asking retailers and hospitality venues about their sourcing policies
- Supporting local cooperatives and Indigenous-owned supplier networks in Australia and equivalent Scottish initiatives
- Engaging with council consultations on procurement frameworks
Ewing's message is clear: change happens when citizens, businesses, and governments align around shared values. She has framed her candidacy as an opportunity to push these principles forward at Westminster while strengthening them closer to home. Stand with candidates who put fairness, transparency, and worker dignity at the heart of every contract signed.