Rachel Reeves tells ministers to ‘buy British’ in four key industries

Rachel Reeves on a visit to British Steel’s Scunthorpe site last year. She has pressed every spending department to award contracts to British companies. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Rachel Reeves has instructed cabinet colleagues to award government contracts in four critical industries directly to British companies, making clear her irritation that ministers have been sending too much government business abroad.

In a letter seen by the Guardian, the chancellor tells every cabinet minister in charge of a spending department to “buy British” wherever possible, adding that she is disappointed they are not already doing so.