Stores' unpalatable strong-arm tactics

11:42am Tuesday 13th May 2008

I agree with Keith Taylor that, in the redevelopment of the London Road area, we need to avoid creating another homogenous high street and we need to stand united to achieve this (Letters, May 4).

I too 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 Tesco's activities in Thailand may help to illustrate where some of this feeling comes from. Not satisfied with its domination of British high streets, Tesco has developed Tesco Lotus in Thailand.

Journalists who criticised Tesco Lotus are being sued for millions of pounds of damages for libel which are almost certain to make them bankrupt if Tesco's 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."

I have written to Sir Terry Leahy, chief executive of Tesco, asking him to drop the lawsuits and telling him that I will boycott Tesco and vigorously oppose any expansion of Tesco in Brighton as a demonstration of my own objection to its actions.

• Nancy Platts, Labour parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion

Editor's Choice