The Parliamentary Repair Cafe was held back in March. Over six months ago.
It was a good event with lots of support from politicians, community repairers and industry. It was about a better Right to Repair.

Back then the government was promising to publish its Circular Economy proposals.

They have still not been published and despite over 150 MPs signing the Repair and Reuse Declaration, there is no sign of anything happening.

I also sent a boxed set of the unbroken.solutions book, with both zines and a booklet – with a covering letter to the latest Environment Minister. The set is full of solutions. Sadly, there was not even an acknowledgement. If fact, there has not been from any of the last three Ministers we have had. I know they arrived, I got them signed for. I could accept that, if the delcarion was bering acted upon and we were getting new Repair Rights.

80% of the public surveyed want a better right to repair. It has cross-party support. It has industry support.

This has to be one of the EASIEST decisions for a government to make!

With better Right to Repair and Reuse, and better support – you can reduce waste, reduce upstream environmental damage, help people with the cost of living, help support a more sustainable economy and help create the potential for new repair jobs and maybe even bring more footfall to the high street. Lots of benefits. And it costs next to nothing. The only ‘losers’ are manufacturers who make repair difficult (and some of them organise their business to avoid paying UK taxes).

Why is it so slow and so hard??

I’m left feeling that this is not important to our government. That is not a good legacy.

So, Dame Angela Eagle (current Minister at the time of posting) and DEFRA, please act.

Act now. We have waited long enough.