High street store Lush brands the police "liars"

I'm with you on this Day6. It seems like they had a Gerald Ratner moment when they decided to do this and I suspect it will harm them in the long run. Like you, they've lost my little custom.

I believe Twitter and social media is full of messages written by angry (former) customers Chewbacca

Oh I'd forgotten about Ratners, but yes, this is another moment of foot-shooting.

I cannot believe many will support Lush's stance against the police.

I know that Lush claims that they are just campaigning against a specific police activity (undercover operations), but this is not immediately apparent when you see the police tape and slogans on their windows. I have police officers in my family, and they are working under more difficult conditions now than they have ever had, and so much stress. They've gone into the job because they want to make a positive difference, and they need all the public support they can get. This company has jumped on bandwagons before - I remember one product that seemed to glorify the London riots, which was quickly withdrawn - but they've overstepped the mark for me now. I've been a loyal Lush customer since their days as Cosmetics To Go, but no longer.

They’ve massively misjudged this haven’t they. I’m all for transparency in the police, and it is disgraceful the amount of time the enquiry is taking. I don’t think anyone will disagree that some of those officers in question did behave poorly. However the campaign is just dreadful.

It doesn’t shed light on the issue they are trying to raise, it barely mentions it. If you didn’t already know about it, their campaign does nothing to enlighten you. In fact the word ‘undercover’ is never used. They released a statement trying to explain it. Well I think we can all agree that if you have to release a lengthy statement in order to make people understand your window display, it’s not remotely effective. The old saying “if you have to explain your jokes they aren’t funny” comes to mind.

What bothers me most however is the impact it could have on young children, seeing the image of a uniformed officer and the words ‘paid to lie’ underneath it. For a company claiming to be so socially responsible, this seems anything but.

Oh and Day6, my Corbyn supporting ds and dil we’re absolutely horrified by the campaign. Perhaps we shouldn’t tar all those people with the same brush, anymore than we should all police.

Expect Corbyn didn’t know anything about this ? just as he didn’t know the politics of Jewdas Seder when he spent a very pleasant evening with them.

No matter their prayer ends with “Burn down parliament. full communism. Amen.

I am sure he enjoyed every minute

Indeed SpanielNanny. My son has joined the Labour Party because of Corbyn and he too has branded this campaign disgusting.

However, 'the company you keep' cmes to mind. If Lush is anti police, as their slogans and pictures on store windows would have us believe, I'd imagine Corbyn would distance himself and condemn the campaign. He hasn't, as yet.

I’m really sad that Lush has behaved so inconsiderately and thoughtlessly. Overall they do amazing charity work and support many small worthwhile causes throughout the world.Their employees get paid time off to do charity work and their global workforce are all properly employed and paid. I’m going to carry on supporting them as I think their heart is in the right place and when you think of how Amazon for example treat their poor warehouse staff but I’d guess most GNers carry on using them and then all the clothes that are made under dreadful conditions in sweat shops in Asia. It’s very easy to get carried away on a wave of righteous indignation about this - they were wrong but do they really deserve to be forced out of business for this when the business environment we operate in is pretty corrupt in many hidden ways all around us? One other thing, Lush are unpopular amongst some simply because they pay above minimum wage and for all their ethical practices and charity work - they are constantly rated as one of the best companies to work for.

Expect he is waiting to see which way the wind blows Day6

Theresa May isn’t exactly a friend to the police either though Day6. Let’s not forget she used a speech to the police federation to announce that the police showed ‘contempt for the public’.

I know only one serving police officer. However he will not vote conservative due to the damage Theresa May did to the force as Home Secretary (that been said, he despises Corbin too, no idea who he does vote for! )

I am genuinely shocked that the Lush campaign has lasted his long to be honest. Thought they would have seen sense by now.

Well as the usual suspects are using this as another Corbyn knocking thread we know what we can expect of the quality of the debate.

Maryeliza, you sound like a Corbyn scriptwriter. Did you help him with his pro-Putin stance at the time of the Salisbury nerve agent poisonings scandal?

Lush may be good employers, and that's nice for the people who work for them, but they have made a very political stance AGAINST the British police force. They have alienated the majority of the UK population I would think.

It is bewildering, and inexcusable imo.

It would have been perfectly possible to have discussed this issue predicated upon what we can and should expect from businesses and the folly to us of Lush’s behaviour without it so rapidly spiralling down to the usual level. I think there is an interesting debate to be had about being a consumer and what would make us boycott a company but it won’t be had on here I’m afraid

Yawn yawn yawn Day you have proved my point perfectly

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As for the great Britsh public they will huff and puff until well at least tomorrow and then forget all about as usual

Why always so angry maryeliza? This really doesn't need to descend into a vitriolic rant about political persuasions. OP never mentioned anything about any of the political parties in her opening post. If this subject doesn't interest you, just move on to something else.

I hope sincerely that it isn't forgotten by tomorrow, big business has a huge responsibility to behave in an ethical manner. The public must vote with their spending power and act accordingly.
No more lush products from me until they retract or justify.

Lush are my DGD’s favourites . Unlike a lot of other big businesses they do a massive amount of charity work and lead the way on ethically sourced natural products .

annsixty I completely agree. What makes it even worse in this case is Lush market themselves as being so socially aware. How they can be so irresponsible is beyond me. I genuinely fear that their past reputation for doing so much good may lead those who are easily influenced to be sucked in to the image the campaign displays (whatever its true intentions are)

As for the great British public they will huff and puff until well at least tomorrow and then forget all about as usual

Sadly they may, maryeliza. The police simply doesn't enjoy the same level of support as the other emergency services, which is why this action is particularly irresponsible, and also why Lush will probably get away with it. Police officers are heroes for the day when they tackle armed terrorists or are shot or stabbed in the course of their duty, but business as usual soon resumes.

You're right of course about Lush's credentials as an ethical employer, and about the good causes they support, and I would be sorry to see that go. But putting a photo of a frontline officer on a poster with the caption "Paid to Lie" is beyond the pale. Children seeing this will just take it at face value, that the police are paid to lie. And instead of apologising, and acknowledging that they have acted irresponsibly, Lush are still trying to justify themselves. The British public would have been outraged if they'd put up a photo of a doctor or a nurse - "Paid to kill" - casting aspersions on the entire medical profession without clarifying that they were referring to Harold Shipman, Niels Hoegel or Beverley Allitt.

I'm not going to use this issue to knock Corbyn, by the way. I voted for the man (as the lesser of two evils!).

The police simply don't enjoy or The police force simply doesn't enjoy, instead of what I've put!

Excellent post Maggiemaybe, you're quite right. Had this campaign been aimed at nurses or doctors, there would have been uproar in the media. The police force seems to be seen as fair game though.

This will not cause damage , many younger people are anti police and defence such as Maryeliza’s will be used to support this company . Personally I think their action is sickening , my husband who was an honest police officer died on duty , many honest police officers have died on duty . There are corrupt police officers, not all police are corrupt.

seems Mr Corbyn is responsible for ALL thats wrong in the world .You couldn;t make it up could you? The way some folk constantly harp on about him...and I'm no fan but for goodness sake get some perspective