A SUPERMAKET OMBUDSMAN?

All of a sudden it seems a good idea (if you the Conservative or Labour Party) to have a Supermarket Ombudsman which might protect both the consumer, the supplier and the farmer from some of the more harsher aspects of monopolistic capitalism as practised by certain supermarkets.

Now don't get me wrong a Supermarket Ombudsman is a good idea and a measure of protection for the customer, the supplier and the farmers is a good idea that's Long overdue. Whilst clearing my spare room I came across a hastily scribbled note from 2006 (probably in preparation for a Conference speech in 2006 / 2007) even a few years down the line it makes interesting reading.

• The big '5' (in 2006) controlled almost 80% of the grocery sales in the UK
• Between 1995 and 2000 the UK lost one fifth of its local shops and local services - local post offices, local butchers, local branches of banks, grocers, etc
• The supermarkets have made and regular large donations (in cash or kind) to both New Labour, the Conservatives and other political parties.
• 54 years ago farmers received between 45 and 60% of the money that consumers spent on food.
• In 2006 it was just 7% in the UK, 3.5% int he USA and 18% in France.
• Gate prices don't make anything like a fair comparison with final Shelf price - in the UK farmers got (in 2006) something like 8 - 13% bellow the EU average gate price.
  

The real danger is once the Political parties get used to the perks of a close relationship with the Supermarkets, Power Companies, etc with their glossy adverts in conference brochures, free food at funded functions, etc is that they stay bought and democracy is damaged.

A good question to ask would be what do they get for their money? or what are they seeking for their donations? The answer may well be a weak and watered down Supermarket Ombudsman - which is the last any of us needs, whether as a customer, a supplier or a farmer.