M&S has rebranded its Midget Gem sweets following claims the name is 'hate speech' and offensive to people with dwarfism.
A campaign by Dr Erin Pritchard, who has a condition that stunts growth called achondroplasia, was the driving force for the change after the lecturer in disability studies at Liverpool Hope University raised concerns around the use of the word 'midget'.
Stating that the word has its roots in Victorian freak shows, Pritchard took pains to explain why the word is offensive - approaching a number of supermarkets and confectionary makers in her bid to stop the brand using the derogatory term.
M&S is the first retailer to react to her campaign, saying it was “committed to being an inclusive retailer” as it rolled out the changed labelling.
“Following suggestions from our colleagues and the insights shared by Dr Erin Pritchard, we introduced new Mini Gem packaging last year, which has since been rolled out to all of our stores,” a spokesperson for M&S said.
Marks and Spencer has decided to rename its popular Midget Gems after claims it was offending people with dwarfism / Credit: Marks & Spencer
Tesco has also said it will be reviewing the name of its product.
A spokesperson for the supermarket said: “We are a diverse and inclusive retailer and we would not want any of our products to cause offence [so] we are grateful to Dr Pritchard for bringing this to our attention.”
Following the announcement, Dr Pritchard claimed a lot of people were getting “upset” about the change, taking to Twitter today to say: “It seems that there are a lot of average-sized men getting upset about the removal of the word midget from a packet of sweets.
Explaining a little more about why the word is offensive to people with restricted growth in Big Issue North, Dr Pritchard said: “Often referred to by people with dwarfism as the m-word, it is a term derived from the word midge, meaning gnat or sandfly.
“Its origin automatically dehumanises people like me.
“It was a term popularised during the Victorian freak show, where many disabled people, including people with dwarfism, were oppressed and exploited.”
If your skincare routine has been needing an upgrade, there's some good news waiting for you inside Trinity Leeds.
The shopping centre has just welcomed Moida, a brand-new beauty retailer specialising in authentic Korean skincare, bringing some of the world's most sought-after K-beauty products to Leeds.
Named after the Korean word meaning 'to gather' or 'come together', moida is all about making Korean skincare easy to discover and accessible for everyone.
Inside the new store that has taken over the old Claire's Accessories site, shoppers can expect an extensive range of handpicked products from some of the biggest names in K-beauty, including Beauty of Joseon, Dr. Althea, TIRTIR, Medicube, Biodance, and more cult-favourite brands.
The collection has been curated by a team of Korean beauty experts with close links to Korea, meaning customers can expect everything from viral TikTok sensations to exclusive products that are often difficult to get hold of elsewhere in the UK.
Moida K-Beauty has opened in Trinity Leeds. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Steven Foster, Centre Director at Trinity Leeds, said: "With Korean skincare still increasing in popularity, moida brings an exciting new concept to the centre. Offering guests viral products alongside everyday essentials, plus the chance to browse new brands in-store will be a fantastic experience.
"We know moida is going to be a brilliant addition for both existing fans of K-beauty and those keen to discover it for the first time."
It's the latest announcement following the recent launches of Lane7, Footasylum, LEGO, Jerk Junction, The Fragrance Shop and schuh at Trinity Leeds.
Leeds man jailed for life after being found guilty of dozens of sexual and physical assault offences
Emily Sergeant
A man from Leeds has been jailed for life after being found guilty of dozens of sexual and physical assault offences.
Paul Benstock - aged 62, of Appletree Court in the village of East Ardsley - appeared at Leeds Crown Court last week where he was sentenced after being convicted of more than 40 offences committed against five victims,
Following a Leeds Safeguarding investigation, Benstock was found guilty of a number of sexual offences and physical assaults against both adult and child victims, including 14 counts of rape - with these offences having thought to have taken place over a 22-year period between 1998 and 2020.
Benstock was also identified as being involved in the making of indecent images of children following an operation by the National Crime Agency’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP), and was also found guilty of these offences.
"Much of Benstock’s offending was against victims who were children at the time," explained Detective Sergeant Michelle Barnes, of Leeds Safeguarding Unit.
"His victims have shown incredible bravery in giving us detailed accounts of what has taken place and then again supporting the trial process by giving evidence when Benstock refused to take accountability for his awful crimes."
Benstock was sentenced to 37 years imprisonment.
He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, West Yorkshire Police has confirmed.
The Hoot -
13th January 2022 
