Tory boycott law sends mixed message | Letters

The government's plan to ban public bodies from boycotting companies they deem unethical is a step backwards when ethical considerations in procurement and commissioning are needed more than ever (Boycotts are vital to democracy. So that's why the Tories will ban them, 18 February).

It goes against the grain of the Social Value Act, which was tabled by a Conservative MP and requires public bodies to consider how the services they commission might create a positive social or environmental impact. Just three years after becoming law, it is creating a quiet revolution, and progressive public bodies are using it to tackle local problems and get more bang for the taxpayer's buck. The government risks sending mixed messages to commissioning and procurement teams, who need an array of tools in their armoury to best support the local communities they serve.
Peter Holbrook
Social Enterprise UK