When politicians refuse to listen to what their consituents are telling them through the usual channels, those constituents usually find another way to make themselves heard. Through petitions, campaigns, protests and ultimately their vote – or lack of it.

Sadly the winner of the protest vote is often no better than the politician we wish to hear us.

As citizens and consumers we can have a bigger, more immediate impact, simply by voting with our feet, and choosing to buy from, work for, even fund organisations that are building the kind of world we want to see.

There are plenty of them about, if you’re prepared to put a little effort into finding them. Almost all of the shops mentioned here are still going strong.

And at the moment it’s a better bet for being heard than writing to your MP.