A Labour MP has blasted a string of protests as 'utterly sickening' after demonstrators were filmed emptying cartons of milk onto the floor of a Marks and Spencer.
Protesters targeted the store in Manchester city centre on Saturday (October 15), pouring out the cartons of milk onto the shop floor and placing placards over joints of beef. The protest group Animal Rebellion said the store on Market Street was one of many others targeted in a day of action across the country on their social media.
Sharing video footage of one of the protests staged in an Edinburgh Waitrose, in which demonstrators held up signs reading 'Plant Based Future' as they emptied milk out onto the floor, Labour MP for Denton and Reddish, Andrew Gwynne, branded the act 'utterly sickening' at a time where 'food poverty and foodbank use is rising'.
He wrote: "I don’t care the rights and wrongs of the actual issue… this is criminal damage and in a cost of living crisis where food poverty and Foodbank use is rising, it’s also utterly sickening."
Over the weekend, the group co-ordinated the action in stores like Waitrose, Whole Foods and Marks and Spencer in London, Manchester, Norwich and Edinburgh. Footage shows several protesters pouring milk, taken from the shelves, on to display cabinets in Harrods’ food hall in Knightsbridge.
Sharing the video of demonstrators at the Manchester M&S store on Saturday, Animal Rebellion tweeted: "Happening now in Manchester! Concerned individuals have just poured milk on the floors of @marksandspencer on Market Street! Calling for a transition to a #PlantBasedFuture".
Animal Rebellion said it is calling for a plant-based future and highlighting the need to support farmers in transitioning to a sustainable plant-based food system. Greater Manchester Police have been contacted for more information.
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