// Marks and Spencer has been urged to close its stores in Russia by Conservative MP Alicia Kearns
// Kearns adapted the M&S advertising slogan, saying: “This isn’t just any food, it’s blood and rape food.”
A Conservative MP has called for the dozens of Marks & Spencer stores still open across Russia to be closed immediately, suggesting Vladimir Putin is funnelling every rouble made in the country into its invasion of Ukraine.
The representative for Rutland and Melton, Alicia Kearns, who made her comments while hosting four Ukrainian parliamentarians in the House of Commons on Thursday, said any profits generated would be tainted by the killings and war crimes committed during the conflict.
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Her calls come as most major international retailers have suspended trading in Moscow, due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with those remaining being accused of economically supporting the Kremlin and its war effort.
Speaking to the Guardian, Kearns adapted the M&S advertising slogan, saying: “This isn’t just any food, it’s blood and rape food.”
“It is wrong that some British businesses continue to operate, because all they are doing is buttressing Putin’s brutality and funding his war coffers.”
Ukrainian MP Alyona Shkrum, who met prime minister Boris Johnson yesterday, praised Britain for supporting the war-affected country but added “there are still three big companies who haven’t left,” including M&S, and money generated “goes just to the army”.
Two weeks ago M&S stopped supplying its 48 franchises in Russia, which employs 1,200 workers, but the stores remain open and are selling stock they have left.
The shops are operated by a Turkish company FiBA, which has the right to use the M&S name and sell its products and M&S is unable to force the store closures without legal consequences.
A spokesperson added: “We suspended deliveries to our franchise licensee’s Russian business two weeks ago and have no plans to reinstate them. We are actively discussing the future of the business with our franchise licensee.”
Other chains that operate in Russia by franchise, including McDonald’s, have been able to close their doors, given the agreements differ between companies.
No 10 has reiterated its call on businesses to “do nothing that could potentially support Putin’s regime and indeed do everything to put pressure on him to change course”.
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