Back Market and The Restart Project took a significant step forward in advancing Right to Repair in the UK, hosting a Parliamentary Repair Café inside the House of Lords. Organised by Baroness Parminter and attended by 36 Members of Parliament, the event highlighted growing political momentum behind legislation that supports consumer rights to repair electronic devices. Hosted under the oil portrait of former Prime Minister Clement Attlee, the event blended politics, sustainability, and tools in an unprecedented setting.
High turnout signals shifting priorities
MPs mingled with tech experts, local leaders, and sustainability advocates while drills and screwdrivers buzzed in the background. Representatives from Green Alliance, Suez Recycling and Recovery UK, and the Community Repair Network gathered alongside journalists and industry figures. The keynote address was delivered by Mary Creagh, Minister for Nature.
Back Market urges political action
Katy Medlock, UK General Manager of Back Market, urged MPs to sign the Right to Repair Declaration on the spot — and many did. She reminded the audience that the UK is the second-largest contributor to electronic waste per capita in the world. Medlock called the event a potential tipping point, linking policy development to the growing influence of repair culture. With increased consumer demand and active political engagement, she noted, “There is no turning back.”
The Restart Project highlights community effort
Fiona Dear, co-director of The Restart Project, opened the event by underlining the role of over 700 community repair groups across the country. Only 20 could physically attend, but interest exceeded the room's capacity. “I only wish we could have squeezed more into the room,” she said. Dear emphasised how community repair events not only cut waste but empower citizens to engage directly with sustainability efforts.
Grassroots mobilisation proves effective
A notable outcome of the event was the addition of eight new parliamentary signatures to the Right to Repair Declaration. That the event took place on the same day as the Chancellor’s Spending Review was seen as a strong signal of the cause's urgency. Behind the scenes, community-led Repair Cafés were instrumental in lobbying their local MPs to attend, contacting them persistently and providing real stories of repair challenges.
Repair Cafés build local connections
Repair Cafés, run by volunteers, offer free spaces where people learn to fix devices together. Beyond tools and techniques, they foster community resilience, skill-sharing, and advocacy. Many attendees greeted each other like old friends, swapping tips and sharing frustrations with repair-unfriendly brands. The events reinforce that real change begins locally, and Repair Cafés are increasingly being recognised as key pillars in the UK’s emerging circular economy framework.
Electronics added to policy agenda
Electronics repair is now officially included in the UK’s Circular Economy Strategy. This policy milestone is due in part to the persistence of The Restart Project, the advocacy work of Back Market, and the growing network of community repair initiatives. With momentum building both locally and nationally, the UK appears to be stepping closer to a future where repairing devices is a right, not a luxury.
New political appetite for repairability
The packed halls and enthusiastic MP attendance suggest that repair policy is no longer a fringe concern. Once-ignored terms like "repair-friendly design" and "consumer electronics rights" now echo through parliamentary chambers. As pressure mounts on manufacturers and policymakers alike, the message from Downing Street was clear: repair is not just possible — it’s essential.
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