The M&S investor relations dept has not replied to my e-mail about this. The response you got indicates that they are getting very poor PR advice whether from the in-house team or an agency. It would have been so easy to diplomatically say 'we have no further plans to advertise with GB News'.
To confirm my understanding you are highlighting your intent is to actively seek engagement from
more homophobic, transphobic and racist customers? And that LGBT people and people of colour should avoid your stores if they do not wish to engage with such prejudice.
Our local Marks and Spencer opened during the recent red weather warning putting their staff at considerable risk. Any principles they might have had seem to have been surrendered to profit.
M&S Have long been known for appealing mainly to the white over 50`s retiree market, so go figure, the |"we want our country back generation" is it any surprise they support GB News ? let them destroy thier next generation of customers, I doubt they will be missed much.
Time to email Marks and Spencer. They can fund hate or get my business but not both. Disappointed in M&S. I know I am just one person, but it's better than nothing.
Disappointed by their recent actions. I worked temporarily for them ages ago and I was impressed with their employment initiatives, which meant they employed many people with varying disabilities. Plus they had shifts for mums with kids at school, and other schemes I can’t remember.
I also clearly remember a question during induction training “what would you do if a homeless person with a bad odour was in the store” The correct answer was something about everyone being welcome in their stores. I thought they were one of the good ones. Hence my disappointment
Even if M&S have decided to put alleged "shareholder value" before even flimsy legal obligations the right wing press are all leaning into Badenoch style MAGA crap.
It definitely is striking that seems to be no attempt to respond to the substantive concerns that people have actually been raising, and no reference to the values that the company elsewhere made a big thing of showing support for
Even if they stop giving money to a hate pushing media outlet, the damage is done. The fact they even did it in the first place makes a mockery of their so-called values. They are welcome to the "reform" voter's £, but they won't be getting mine again.
I emailed sat morning and have had no response yet . FWIW also told Ocado I would not be shopping there with my lovely 30oercent off voucher :( because of their partnership with m and s .
No M&S, good marketing isn't about splattering everywhere, it's about choosing channels that align with your brand positioning, equity and values. It's why you wouldn't expect to see M&S advertising on an Adult Entertainment channel.
"How best to reach customers"... Nice to know that one will be rubbing shoulders with a fair few racist GBeebies News viewers when wandering the food hall or buying underwear!
I expect that . Much I I dislike them people are allowed their views. It's different to acknowledge bigotry exists to endorse and support it - or worse .
Just bought two not inexpensive dresses there for my son's wedding. Going to return them tomorrow and buy the same elsewhere. I like to shop across a very wide range of places that do not support hate.
It's very easy to read this as: "We see no problem with associating our brand with anti-LGBT hate libel, because it might net us a little bit more profit"
Comments
To confirm my understanding you are highlighting your intent is to actively seek engagement from
more homophobic, transphobic and racist customers? And that LGBT people and people of colour should avoid your stores if they do not wish to engage with such prejudice.
Sincerely
Non-bigots
"generational stereotyping contributes to the “othering” of older people and divisive and harmful tensions in society"
The very thing @stopfundinghate.bsky.social campaigns against.
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cmselect/cmwomeq/414/report.html#heading-2
In 2025 they're now "shunning" the "woke herd", according to the Daily Express... (saved version of the article here: https://archive.is/DOJaI)
https://actionstorm.org/petitions/marks-spencer-stop-advertising-on-gb-news
I replied:
'Please be assured I will no longer shop at M&S until it stops advertising with GB News.'
Long Live Cuthbert.
But I was hoping they would quietly stop advertising and never mention it again.
It's a pity if they're defending it - even with a boilerplate answer
Thankfully they took themselves out of 🇫🇷 due to brexit