Nickie Aiken, Member of Parliament for the Cities of London & Westminster, led the calls for an investigation into the network of candy shops taking over parts of the West End.
Over the last few years, a series of sweet shops have popped up across London’s premier shopping streets, including Oxford Street.
You may have seen them, the great big sweet shops selling american sweets, sometimes with roaring music, but rarely with customers inside.
A recent investigation by the MailOnline revealed a huge £7.9 million tax scam investigation was to be launched, following months of preparation by formerly Conservative controlled Westminster City Council. The MailOnline also reported that some of these sweet shops are selling sweets that are so sweet they would be illegal to manufacture in the UK.
Commenting on the investigation, Nickie said,
“I think they are wrong on a number of levels - what they're offering and the way they entice young people and children into their stores with these bizarre marketing strategies. They are a bit like the modern day childcatcher.
“I think the other point to make is the landlords on Oxford Street obviously want to keep their premises open with tenants. But these shops don't really do much for the ambiance of Oxford Street. They bring it down really.
“So it is a bit of short termism by landlords I would suggest. They really want to be investing in their buildings and investing in the type of tenants that will draw more people in the long term."
