Salisbury’s MP  has defended himself from criticism after visiting Costa and William Hill last Friday during Independents Month.

John Glen has been taken to task for posting pictures of himself at the Salisbury chains after he was invited to celebrate a constituent’s 21st year at the betting shop and meet the new coffee shop staff on Southampton Road.

In a Twitter post with him drinking a Costa coffee, Mr Glen wrote: “It was great to show my support for local businesses on Friday.”

However he received a barrage in response.

One poster said: “He would have been better off going to LOCAL businesses.”

Another said: “Yeah, they are literally national chains, not local businesses.”

Meanwhile local independent businesses have spoken to the Journal, with some saying they’d like to see Mr Glen “make more of an effort to seek out independents”.

Sarah Brett, 20, and Erin Doherty, 19, from Sonder Coffee agreed “Costa doesn’t need the publicity”. Sarah said: “I think he should have come here! Or just somewhere that’s not a chain.

“Publicity would be good for independents, especially after Covid,” added Erin.

Salisbury Journal: Sonder Coffee is an independently-owned cafe in Salisbury.Sonder Coffee is an independently-owned cafe in Salisbury.

Richard Coleman, owner of Greengages cafe, has seen his numbers dropping over the past three months. 

Reflecting on July being Independents Month, Richard said: “Having your local MP show support to national companies doesn’t give me much encouragement that he’s doing more for the local community.

“These multi-nationals can offset a slow trading period. Local traders like me can’t.

“Mr Glen could’ve made an effort to seek out more independents. I’ve never seen him in here.”

The Yard is another independent, family-owned coffee shop in Salisbury. Joe Nicholson, 34, from The Yard wonders where the MP’s priorities lie.

He said: “Independents make up the town. It would be good if he looked beyond the multi-nationals but it makes you wonder if he’s protecting small businesses or just big businesses’ interests.”

Mr Glen told the Journal he doesn’t “choose to support one business over another on the spur of the moment” and that he shops independently as a “private citizen”.

Mr Glen said: “I go wherever I am invited and it just so happened that two big High Street names extended formal invitations for the same day.”

Talking about his visit to William Hill, Mr Glen added: “I think it would have been a shame had I refused the invitation to go and celebrate their achievement just because they work in a chain.”

What do you think? How are you supporting independent businesses in Salisbury? Let us know by emailing newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk or tweet us @journalupdate.

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