BEAUTY giant Lush have been accused of encouraging evil people smuggling gangs with shocking new posters.
The cosmetic shop was blasted for a new campaign featuring a picture of a small blow-up boat like the ones used to transport thousands of people across the Channel.
The campaign posters in Lush encourage people to welcome small boat arrivals
It comes as another 807 came to Britain in 19 boats last week, as the warmer weather encourages more dangerous journeys.
The posters call on customers to welcome small boat arrivals and send them messages of support.
The posters say “all refugees are welcome… however you got here” – despite ministers making it illegal to come to Britain on a small boat to claim asylum in a bid to stop people making the journey across the perilous body of water.
All 103 stores across the UK are set to promote the poster campaign, which will promote sales of special bath bomb with ‘welcome’ embossed on the side.
Cash raised will go to Refugee Action, who have been fighting the Government’s Rwanda policy and helped ground last June’s deportation flight.
But last night MPs accused them of encouraging the criminal gangs to continue to try to send desperate people across the perilous crossing.
And Brits said they would boycott the brand in protest at the campaign.
One said: “Another one to boycott. Go woke, go broke.”
Tory MP Jonathan Gullis hit out: “Yet more virtue-signalling from a company which is drastically out of touch with the people of this great nation.
“To encourage people to needlessly risk their lives is one of the most reckless things you can do, and will help put thousands of pounds in the hands of smuggling gangs.
“Lush needs to get a grip, have a cold shower check with reality, and maybe they will be able to come back smelling like roses.”
In 2018 Lush was forced to drop their controversial ‘spy cops’ campaign after a huge backlash.
Their shop window featured posters saying undercover police were “paid to lie”.
Tim Naor Hilton, Chief Executive of Refugee Action, defended the advert last night, saying: “No one wants to see refugees risking their lives in dangerous dinghies.
“But the Government’s refusal to open safe routes is driving people – many of whom have family here – to make life-threatening Channel crossings.
“It’s shameful that Ministers prefer to indefinitely lock up refugees under its new Refugee Ban Bill than find a compassionate fix to this lack of safe routes.”
And Lush Campaigns Manager, Andrew Butler said it was “shameful” how migrants were being scapegoated.
He said: “We know refugees are forced to leave their homes in extremely challenging circumstances, the very least we can do is welcome them – which is the purpose and central point of this campaign.
“So our message is clear, wherever you’re from, however you got here, all refugees are welcome.”
A Tory MP accused the firm of encouraging the smuggling gangs even further
