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| John McDonnell joins Topshop living wage protesters in demonstration against Sir Philip Green | John McDonnell joins Topshop living wage protesters in demonstration against Sir Philip Green |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell joined hundreds of protesters in a demonstration against Topshop owner Sir Philip Green and his company’s treatment of employees. | Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell joined hundreds of protesters in a demonstration against Topshop owner Sir Philip Green and his company’s treatment of employees. |
| Activists from the group Class War and trade unionists descended on the company’s flagship store in London's Oxford Street, blocking the entrance and setting off red smoke bombs. | Activists from the group Class War and trade unionists descended on the company’s flagship store in London's Oxford Street, blocking the entrance and setting off red smoke bombs. |
| Around 200 people were heard chanting "Topshop, shame on you" as part of a campaign demanding the High Street clothing chain pay the living wage, with 16 other shops targeted across the country. | Around 200 people were heard chanting "Topshop, shame on you" as part of a campaign demanding the High Street clothing chain pay the living wage, with 16 other shops targeted across the country. |
| Rikki Blue, who witnessed the protest, told The Independent: “Police wouldn’t let us anywhere near the store and Topshop hired men the size of houses to block our entry. | |
| “It’s really exciting for the new workers’ movement. The government are all very scared of this kind of movement taking off.” | “It’s really exciting for the new workers’ movement. The government are all very scared of this kind of movement taking off.” |
| Leaflets handed out by United Voices of the World union, which organised the event, said Topshop cleaners had experienced a “campaign of bullying and intimidation”, and that two employees had been suspended for requesting living wage pay. Around 600 leaflets were placed among clothes in the store. | Leaflets handed out by United Voices of the World union, which organised the event, said Topshop cleaners had experienced a “campaign of bullying and intimidation”, and that two employees had been suspended for requesting living wage pay. Around 600 leaflets were placed among clothes in the store. |
| The leaflet said: “Instead of investing in his workers, Green has prioritised his billionaire playboy lifestyle, including the purchase of a custom-built luxury yacht worth over £100m.” | The leaflet said: “Instead of investing in his workers, Green has prioritised his billionaire playboy lifestyle, including the purchase of a custom-built luxury yacht worth over £100m.” |
| Teresa Grey, from United Voices of the World, said she and her fellow protesters had taken to the streets to "make their voices heard". | Teresa Grey, from United Voices of the World, said she and her fellow protesters had taken to the streets to "make their voices heard". |
| "Two Topshop cleaners joined our union. For that, one was sacked, the other suspended," she said. | "Two Topshop cleaners joined our union. For that, one was sacked, the other suspended," she said. |
| Aysan Dennis, from protest group Class War, told the Press Association: “We want our voices heard. This is a class war.” | Aysan Dennis, from protest group Class War, told the Press Association: “We want our voices heard. This is a class war.” |
| Asked why she was blocking traffic, she pointed at Topshop and said: “I don’t care. The tax dodgers are the real criminals.” | Asked why she was blocking traffic, she pointed at Topshop and said: “I don’t care. The tax dodgers are the real criminals.” |
| The protest comes after Topshop owner Mr Green was called to appear before MPs to answers questions about BHS, which went into administration last month. | The protest comes after Topshop owner Mr Green was called to appear before MPs to answers questions about BHS, which went into administration last month. |
| Topshop could not be reached for comment. | Topshop could not be reached for comment. |