Making a stand against Tesco

Nancy Platts, Labour's parliamentary candidate in Brighton Pavilion has called for London Road developers to protect independent shops and businesses by blocking the Tesco-isation of our high streets.

She is also boycotting Tesco in protest at the company's libel action in response to criticism by journalists in Thailand.

Speaking after an exhibition of proposals by St James's Investments, Nancy said: "When re-developing the London Road area, we need to avoid creating another homogenous high street and we need to stand united to achieve this.

"I attended the Bright New London Road exhibition and spoke to the developers about the need to protect independent shops and businesses.

"The developers seemed bemused by the anti-Tesco feeling and told me that when they asked people to explain why they felt like this, they seemed unable to do so. Perhaps their activities in Thailand may help to illustrate where this feeling comes from.

"Not satisfied with their domination of UK high streets, Tesco have developed 'Tesco Lotus' in Thailand.

"Journalists who criticised 'Tesco Lotus' are being sued for libel; for millions of pounds of damages, almost certain to cause them bankruptcy if Tesco claims are upheld. This is just one example of Tesco's strong-arm tactics to squash any public debate around its growth and subsequent impact on local economies.

"Even worse is the charge of criminal defamation which is being brought against Jit Siratranont, a former Thai MP, which under the Thai penal code carries a maximum two-year prison sentence. The European Court of Human Rights has held that imprisonment is a disproportionate response to defamation.

"Tesco's action is in direct contravention of its own corporate responsibility policy that states 'Tesco is committed to upholding basic human rights and supports in full the United Nations universal declaration of human rights'."

Nancy has written to Sir Terry Leahy, chief executive of Tesco, asking him to drop the libel action and telling him that she will boycott Tesco and vigorously oppose any expansion of Tesco in Brighton as a demonstration of her own objection to Tesco's blatant abuse of human rights.

If you would like to join her, please email her at yoursay@nancyplatts.com