M&S boss says ‘London on life support’ amid investment plan
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The boss of Marks & Spencer has warned London is “on life support” as the high street retailer committed to £12.5 million of investment and to create over 200 new jobs in the city. Stuart Machin, chief executive of the historic retailer, criticised the Government’s decision to scrap tax-free shopping and the “proliferation of tacky candy stores” on Oxford Street as he said London has fallen behind other major cities. In a letter in the Evening Standard, he said: “The high street which is meant to be the jewel in London’s crown today is a national embarrassment, with a proliferation of tacky candy stores, antisocial behaviour and footfall remaining in the doldrums, 11% down on pre-pandemic levels.
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