Stop Funding Hate campaigners target Deeside based Iceland Foods following LEGO victory

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A social media campaign asking top UK brands to stop advertising in some tabloids is gaining momentum.

Stop Funding Hate want right wing newspapers, including The Daily Mail, The Daily Express and the Sun, to end misleading and sensationalist headlines negatively portraying refugees and immigrants.

On Saturday the campaign scored a major victory when LEGO announced via social media it would end their regular voucher for toy promotions in the Daily Mail.

The Danish firm had previously run free giveaways in the newspaper however, in response to concerted pressure on social media by campaigners and supporters of Stop Funding Hate the company buckeled saying:

“We have finished the agreement with the Daily Mail and are not planning any future promotional activity with the newspaper.”

Wondering why LEGO is trending on twitter? – take a look at this… https://t.co/DZ6QZCezSv pic.twitter.com/2UbnDJJAOb

— Deeside.com (@DeesideDotCom) November 12, 2016

Stop Funding Hate have had major retailers including Deeside based Iceland as well as Aldi, Asda, Morrisons and John Lewis in their sites for some time, but the momentum following LEGO’s move gave new impetus to campaigners on social media.

A number of tweets were sent to Iceland Foods official account urging the company to follow LEGO and stop advertising in those named publications.

“I will be boycotting all of your products whilst you continue to keep advertising in the @MailOnline #StopFundingHate” said one tweet, while another said: @IcelandFoods #StopFundingHate & follow @LEGO_Group lead – pull your ads from the hate rags like the #DailyMail[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

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Petition

Nearly 35,000 people have now signed a petition calling on the boss of Iceland, Malcolm Walker, Rob Collins of Waitrose and Robert Swannell from Marks & Spencer to stop advertising in the Daily Express.

Petition to Waitrose, Iceland and M&S to stop finding hate… https://t.co/JdGM8iWjJp

— Ben The Illustrator (@BenIllustrator) November 14, 2016

The Co-op, has already said it is reviewing its advertising policy a process which they say began before the Stop Funding Hate campaign began.

John Lewis has said that while they “appreciate the strength of feeling on this issue” they never make an editorial judgment on a particular newspaper.

Gary Lineker, who has promoted Walkers crisps for over two decades, has given his backing to the campaign, It’s reported he’s asked Walkers to stop advertising in The Sun after the newspaper ran controversial front pages about the refugee crisis.

Walkers responded: “We have a very successful partnership with Gary Lineker and we will continue to do so. Our advertising approach is not determined by the editorial stances of individual newspapers.”

Deeside.com contacted Iceland Foods for comment on thier postion, they are yet to respond.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]