CHESTER MP Chris Matheson has launched a campaign to encourage residents to ‘think local’ when buying their presents and planning social events this Christmas.

As part of the campaign for shoppers to commit to buying locally this festive season, the City of Chester Labour MP has released a video promoting the best of what the city has to offer.

Mr Matheson said: “Chester’s business owners and their staff have had a tough couple of years, and they need our support. That’s why I am committing to buying gifts in local shops, both where I live and in the city centre. It’s a simple message, but I hope it will resonate with other residents too.”

The video is being promoted on social media using an advertising budget raised from donations by members of the local Labour Party.

Mr Matheson added: “Nationally the Labour Party is clear on the future for our high streets, we can’t keep relying on the outdated business rates system, which favours large online retailers over people who work hard to keep their businesses open locally.

"We also need more powers for local authorities to help landlords get shop units re-occupied when they become empty. It’s disappointing that the Chancellor has decided to defer a decision on the future of business rates again, but I’ll be pushing for reforms like this in Parliament in the new year.”

City of Chester MP Chris Matheson is urging people to shop local this Christmas.

City of Chester MP Chris Matheson is urging people to shop local this Christmas.

Speaking about the video, which praises Chester's city centre retail and hospitality scenes on historic streets such as Bridge Street, Eastgate Street, Watergate Street and Northgate Street, Mr Matheson said: “The video is a bit of fun. It’s basically me wandering around the city we love, but there is a serious message in there too.

"It is easy for people to be negative online these days, posting reasons why they won’t come into the city. I believe we are blessed to live in such a beautiful place and when Chester’s Christmas lights go on, there is no place I would rather be.

“We all have choices. We can choose to buy presents offline instead of online, and we can choose to come into town instead of going out of town. That’s why I am asking people to make a choice that supports independent businesses and to think about Chester’s local economy this Christmas.”

Within the video, Mr Matheson points to successes Chester has had despite the challenges of the past year, such as Chester Zoo having "its busiest August ever" and the launch of the new Sick to Death attraction on Bridge Street helping to ignite "new interests in the story of our city".

He also adds there are such features as the Christmas Market, the Chester Market and Storyhouse showing Oliver Twist! this festive season.

Mr Matheson added in the video: "I wake up in the morning with a real pride, in fact a gratitude, that I live in Chester and I get to represent the city.

"There are some residents who feel the city centre has nothing to offer them any more, but I am sure they share that same sense of pride in Chester and they want to see our city thrive.

"So my challenge to us all is to commit to spending some of our Christmas budget on shops, businesses and hospitality venues here in Chester.

"The city is bustling. We all have choices, you could spend the money online, but I want you, like me, to spend the money locally."