Smashing! Boris Johnson dumps Chequers Ikea crockery and vows to replace it with British-made wares
- Prime Minister pledged to replace crockery in Chequers with British products
- Mr Johnson made the commitment yesterday after being quizzed by Tory MPs
- Jonathan Gullis said he had heard rumours the current plates were from Ikea
Boris Johnson has pledged to lead the way on buying British by replacing the crockery in Chequers with products made in this country.
The Prime Minister gave the commitment yesterday after being quizzed by Tory backbenchers on rumours the current plates were produced abroad.
At a meeting of the 1922 committee, Stoke-on-Trent North MP Jonathan Gullis said he had heard they were cheap crocks from Ikea.
Mr Johnson promised to look at replacing them with items made in the North Staffordshire Potteries, but warned he also had been lobbied by Mid Derbyshire MP Pauline Latham who had suggested rivals at Royal Crown Derby.
Mr Johnson may also be able to turn to Gavin Williamson for advice before making a purchase. The Education Secretary was appointed managing director of Staffordshire pottery firm Aynsley China aged just 28 before entering politics.
Boris Johnson (pictured) has pledged to lead the way on buying British by replacing the crockery in Chequers with products made in this country
The end-of-term 1922 gathering in Parliament came as MPs prepared to leave Westminster at the start of the almost six-week summer recess.
Backbenchers presented the Prime Minister with a signed cartoon that is understood t be a gift following the birth of his son Wilfred.
Mr Johnson vowed to ‘throttle the life out’ of coronavirus but warned MPs that he fears a second spike of infections.
He told the behind-closed-doors meeting he is worried there will be a rise in cases if the country loses it focus.
At a meeting of the 1922 committee, Stoke-on-Trent North MP Jonathan Gullis said he had heard they were cheap crocks from Ikea (stock image)
Mr Johnson promised to look at replacing the plates inside Chequers (pictured) with items made in the North Staffordshire Potteries
Mr Johnson said: ‘That is something we really don’t want to see. We cannot be complacent, if we lose our discipline and focus it could happen here. Covid is the biggest single challenge any government has faced in 70 years.
‘It is a hugely challenging time, but slowly and steadily thanks to the massive common sense of the British people we will get through this.
‘Now we are getting done the things we said to the public we would do, we have a plan and we are sticking to it.
‘We are doing our best to throttle the life out of this virus. We are getting on with our plan to build back better, we are getting on with our agenda.’