We won't be seen to support the war, says M&S as it refuses to send gifts to British troops

Some prime examples of being a scrooge is alive and well at various department stores here in the U.K. in the giving season known as Christmas. The primary scrooge in this article in today's Sunday Telegraph is Marks & Spencers (M&S). Apparently, soldiers from the Royal Irish Regiment, who are are flying the flag for Britain in one of Iraq's most dangerous hot spots in Iraq (Baghdad), wrote to five leading stores back home and asked for some stocking-fillers to give the troops next weekend:

The 70-strong Royal Irish contingent is currently the only British Army unit serving in Baghdad. A source said: "Baghdad is a tough assignment so we wrote to the firms hoping that we'd get some high-class figgy puddings, mince pies, brandy butter and so on, just to make Christmas a bit special this year...."
"...it's a shame that some of our letters don't even seem to have been read properly. They seem to think we're charity fund-raisers - we're not, we're just looking for a few mince pies for our troops."

They wrote to Fortnum & Mason, who answered them with this letter: "As you will appreciate, there are thousands of registered charities in England and Wales, many of whom at some point or other write to us requesting our support. We cannot unfortunately respond favourably to every action."

The soldiers received a letter from James Norrie, the M&S customer services manager wrote: "We do appreciate that work like yours is very valuable but unfortunately it is simply not possible for us to support every request. Please be assured that community work is very important to us."

Representatives from M&S went on to write, "...we couldn't send anything out as it would look like we would be supporting the war in Iraq. To my understanding, we can't be seen to be supporting the Labour Government's war."

Helen Megaw, from the John Lewis Partnership, said: "We cannot find any trace of the letter from Baghdad."

While Richard Gray, a spokesman for Harvey Nichols, said: "We have no knowledge of any receipt of such a letter."

A spokesman for Fortnum & Mason said food parcels had been sent to other units serving in Iraq but the request from the Royal Irish Regiment had arrived too late.

Last night, Marks & Spencer (M&S) tried to backtrack on its earlier comments and an official spokesman insisted that the company did not have a view on Iraq and would reconsider the troops' request.

"We have no stated policy on the war and we never have done," she added.

"The phrasing of the letter was an unfortunate mistake and the letter was dealt with incorrectly. We are apologising. It will be reviewed as a new request."

John Lewis, Harvey Nichols, Fortnum & Mason, and especially Marks & Spencers (M&S) ~ all of you are just fucking pathetic. I hope you all choke on your Christmas puddings and minced pies you stingy, tightass piles of...oh BAH-Humbug to the lot of you!

Shame on you!!!