M&S FIGHTBACK: MP Torsten Bell demands staff support and new store for Swansea after closure bombshell

The high-stakes meeting comes after the bombshell announcement that M&S will close its 69-year-old city centre store as part of a national strategy, a move that sparked widespread dismay among shoppers and politicians alike, as Swansea Bay News previously reported in M&S to close 69-year-old Swansea store in huge shock to council and the subsequent political row over job losses.

Mr Bell wasted no time in confronting regional and national M&S figures, making it clear that the closure of such a long-standing fixture in Swansea was “deeply disappointing.”

“This is a company that has been a major part of life in Swansea for decades,” Mr Bell stated, reflecting the sentiment of hundreds of residents who have already signed a grassroots petition against the closure.

The MP focused on two critical issues during the talks, which took place today.

His immediate priority was to ensure M&S does “everything they can to support the 92 local staff who may be affected,” including those who wish to transfer into other roles within the company.

Crucially, Mr Bell also “strongly urged” the retail giant to work hand-in-hand with Swansea Council to identify a suitable new site, ensuring M&S maintains a vital presence in the heart of the city.

“I am glad to say they are open to” finding a new site, Mr Bell confirmed, offering a glimmer of hope for the future of M&S in Swansea.

The closure has ignited a fierce debate about the future of Swansea city centre, with politicians demanding action and a row erupting over council “vanity projects,” as covered by Swansea Bay News in Politicians demand action as M&S closure sparks row over council ‘vanity projects’.

Mr Bell used the opportunity to “double down on our efforts to regenerate the city centre,” highlighting the progress already made with the opening of Y Storfa, the regeneration of the Palace Theatre, and the success of the Arena.

He also noted that work to renew Castle Gardens is underway, painting a picture of a city centre in transition.

A “personal priority” for the MP is securing the funds to ensure the Civic Centre has a new lease of life, as the city focuses on “building our city centre’s future, as well as remembering its past.”

The M&S closure is part of a wider national strategy by the company to shut a quarter of all its larger format stores across the UK, a development Swansea Bay News reported in Marks and Spencer announce they will close a quarter of all larger format stores.

M&S ROW: Council leader accuses Senedd candidate of using job losses for ‘deplorable’ election campaign

Swansea Council Leader Rob Stewart has hit back at political opponents over the closure of the city’s M&S store, calling it “deplorable” that a Senedd candidate is using the potential loss of 90 local jobs for his election campaign.

The blistering attack comes in response to criticism from Liberal Democrat Senedd candidate Sam Bennett and Swansea Lib Dem leader Cllr Chris Holley, who yesterday questioned the council’s regeneration priorities in the wake of the M&S closure announcement.

In a statement, the Labour leader launched a full-throated defence of his administration’s record while attacking the previous Liberal Democrat-led council.

“It’s deplorable that Cllr Sam Bennett is using the closure of the store with the potential loss of 90 local jobs to try and further his Senedd election campaign,” Cllr Stewart said.

The attack is politically charged, as both men are candidates in the new Gŵyr Abertawe Senedd constituency for the 2026 election. Cllr Stewart is ranked second on the Welsh Labour list, while Cllr Bennett is the lead candidate for the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

He also criticised his Lib Dem counterpart, stating, “It’s also disappointing to see Cllr Holley doesn’t have confidence in Swansea, or its traders and businesses.”

Cllr Stewart claimed his opponents “have not openly supported any of the developments in Swansea delivered over the last 11 years” and are “critics of the £1.3bn city deal.”

He also revealed that M&S has not given up on the city, stating, “M&S are actively looking for a different location in Swansea and have acknowledged the positive impact the regeneration is having.”

He then turned his fire on the record of the previous Liberal Democrat administration, which was led by Cllr Holley for much of its tenure, and controlled Swansea Council from 2004-2012.

“The Lib Dems introduced the disastrous bendy bus, continually dug up the Kingsway and introduced the mad road system, and absolutely failed to invest and support local businesses to grow,” he said.

“They have no ambition for Swansea.”

Politicians demand action as M&S closure sparks row over council “vanity projects”

Liberal Democrats have accused Swansea Council‘s Labour leadership of making “ridiculous” assurances about the impact of multimillion-pound regeneration schemes, pointing to recent claims that the new library would drive footfall to M&S.

Meanwhile, Plaid Cymru’s Sioned Williams MS has written to the Welsh Government demanding support for the 92 staff facing redundancy, describing the closure as a “sickeningly familiar story” of high streets losing historic stores.

The political fallout comes just days after M&S confirmed it will shut its Oxford Street store later this year, ending nearly a century of trading in the city centre.

Welsh Liberal Democrat lead Senedd candidate Cllr Sam Bennett said: “Time and time again the Labour Council Leader has assured us that the massive city centre projects would be the saving of the high street, and this announcement raises big questions.

“At the most recent Council meeting the Leader went as far to say how people were celebrating that the move of the library meant they could now go to M&S, this now sounds ridiculous.”

Cllr Chris Holley, Leader of the Opposition on Swansea Council and Welsh Lib Dem Group Leader, went further, claiming the council had privately assured them M&S would remain once the Yr Storfa development opened.

“We have continually asked and been told that Labour’s vanity projects would be the saving of our high street, and even been told in a meeting M&S would stay once Yr Storfa had opened,” he said.

“This is deeply embarrassing for Labour, and is a tragedy for the city centre workers and shoppers as the Swansea high street takes another blow.”

The Liberal Democrats say they have long called for cheaper and easier parking to encourage city centre use, alongside reforms to business rates and VAT cuts to support high street retailers.

Torsten Bell, Labour MP for Swansea West, struck a more conciliatory tone, expressing “deep disappointment” at the closure and focusing on the impact on staff and customers.

“This decision will be a blow to the many loyal customers who regularly use the store, and for the dedicated employees, some who have worked for M&S over many years,” Mr Bell said.

“They need to be shown the dignity and respect they deserve, while it’s vital they are treated fairly during this difficult time. I have already contacted Senior M&S Managers, with a meeting arranged for next Friday to discuss this further.”

Mr Bell noted the closure comes “at a time when the City Centre has seen huge regeneration at key sites and more top retailers showing confidence in Swansea.”

Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for South Wales West, drew parallels with M&S’s departure from Neath in May 2024, saying the closures represent more than just job losses.

“As with Marks and Spencer’s departure from Neath in May 2024, this is more than losing a job or losing a shop, it’s losing a piece of local history,” she said.

“The Oxford Street store is an important part of many people’s lives, not least for the 92 who work there currently. During its 100 year presence in Swansea, there will have been people who have given their working lives to this store and loyal customers who have helped build this company’s multimillion pound profits.”

Ms Williams said she had written to the Welsh Government asking what support will be offered to staff, and will be writing to M&S to urge them to retain a full-line store in the area.

“I’m glad to see the company not ruling out maintaining a presence in Swansea, but that location should be in the city centre, and not out of town,” she added.

The closure announcement has raised questions about the effectiveness of Swansea Council’s regeneration strategy, which has seen millions of pounds invested in projects including the Copr Bay arena, the new library and museum complex, and the ongoing Yr Storfa development.

M&S has indicated it is considering alternative locations in the Swansea area, but has not confirmed whether any replacement store would be in the city centre or at an out-of-town retail park.

The Oxford Street store, which has traded for nearly 100 years, is expected to close later in 2026, with staff consultations now underway.

BREAKING: M&S to close its 69-year-old Swansea Oxford Street store in a "huge shock" to the council. The move puts 92 jobs at risk, with the retailer citing a decade of declining sales. The council says it is "hugely disappointing."

#Swansea #MarksAndSpencer #SwanseaCityCentre

https://swanseabaynews.com/ms-to-close-69-year-old-swansea-store-in-huge-shock-to-council/

M&S to close 69-year-old Swansea store in ‘huge shock’ to council

The retailer confirmed the proposed closure is due to a “sustained decline in sales over 10 years,” making the huge Oxford Street store no longer viable. While no exact date has been set, the closure is planned for late 2026.

In a letter to council leader Rob Stewart, M&S Head of External Affairs, Adam Hawksbee, explained the decision was part of a UK-wide programme to ensure stores are in the “right space to deliver an excellent shopping experience.”

“This proposal follows a sustained decline in sales over 10 years, meaning it is no longer viable as a full-line store,” Mr Hawksbee wrote. “Our store rotation programme is about ensuring we have the right stores, in the right place with the right space to deliver an excellent shopping experience for our customers.”

Responding on Facebook, Cllr Rob Stewart called the decision “hugely disappointing” and a “huge shock to the council, as it will to the staff and customers.”

He revealed that the council had successfully worked behind the scenes to prevent the store from being included in previous national closure rounds.

“We had successfully worked behind the scenes engaging with M&S senior decision makers to avoid this store being included in the previous rounds of M&S closures and have been encouraging M&S to invest,” Cllr Stewart said. “However yesterday’s urgent meeting and the letter that followed, has come as a huge shock.”

An official Swansea Council statement added: “The news from M&S is extremely disappointing for staff and shoppers. We’ve spent several years actively working to prevent M&S closing at this location.”

Despite the closure, both parties have stated they are committed to keeping the M&S brand in Swansea. The council confirmed it will “do all we can to help M&S find an alternative store location in Swansea.”

This is reinforced in the M&S letter, which states: “Despite the proposed closure, M&S remains fully committed to serving customers across Wales… while actively looking for a suitable location for a future full-line M&S store in Swansea.”

Once the Oxford Street store closes, shoppers will still be able to visit M&S Foodhalls at Fforestfach Retail Park and in Mumbles. The nearest full-line department store will be at Parc Trostre in Llanelli.

The closure is another blow to the city centre, with the M&S building occupying a prime position next door to the council’s recently opened Y Storfa community hub, which itself is housed in the former BHS building.

The move is part of a wider national strategy that has already seen nearly 90 M&S stores close, including the Neath store in 2025.

It looks like the Pancake Clouds have become quite the hit at Marks & Spencer in the UK recently!

近期在英國馬莎頗受歡迎的「圓形食物」，好像是。可是我對於如何享用它沒有什麼概念。

#marksandspencer #mandsfood #推特吃 #twiteat

‘I tried butter from M&S, Waitrose, Kerrygold and Lurpak – there was a clear winner’

Butter is a staple ingredient in households in the UK, but we are spoilt for choice when it comes to which brand …
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Frenchbutter #Butter #Buttertastetest #francais #france #French #kerrygold #LauraKhoshaba #marksandspencer #supermarketbrands #supermarkets #waitrose
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2424504/i-tried-butter-from-ms-waitrose-kerrygold-and-lurpak-there-was-a-clear-winner/