The flagship M&S store in Carmarthen town centre was encircled today by Cymdeithas yr Iaith supporters holding up a string of 200 pairs of pants to show what they thought of the company’s language policy. Hazel Charles Evans told hundreds of town-centre shoppers and Cymdeithas members that the company had reneged on its commitment to make its Carmarthen store a flagship for the full use of the Welsh language in its business.

Cymdeithas yr Iaith has previously met with Carmarthen store manager and Marks and Spencer officials to discuss their language policy, but as the shop put up new signs in their Carmarthen shop at the beginning of the year, bilingual signs came down and English-only signs have taken their place.

Hazel Charles Evans, one of the organisers of the campaign said:
"M & S have gone back on their word, they had promised to give more attention to the Welsh language. At the start of this year new signs were put up in Carmarthen Marks and Spencer and the Welsh signs have gone. They are showing a total disrespect for their customers here in Wales. It has caused great discontent in the town and the surrounding area. They are a failure and a disappointment."

Sioned Elin, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith in the area added:
"'Mark Spencer' came to Carmarthen again today, he wasn't too pleased to see protesters with their pants outside the shop – but while we have to put up with a 'pants' Welsh language service he'll have to put up with our pants!”

The protest comes after a visit by 'Mark Spencer' and after Carmarthen residents encouraged Marks and Spencer to show loyalty to the Welsh language with special loyalty cards.

The story in the local press -

"Shoppers say 'pants' to M&S language policy" - South Wales Guardian 01/08/13