By Paddy Briggs
The real question to ask about Shells unbelievably crass decision not to allow the sale of poppies at their petrol stations this year is at what level the call as made.
Ignore the statement from Shirley Cinco, at Shells Customer Service Centre in Manchester, that: Rather than simply giving to worthy causes, Shell prefers to donate skills, time and knowledge as well as money. It is in the context of this strategy that Shell Retail will not be allowing any further charities, including the poppy appeal, to use its forecourt network to collect monies. This is corporate speak of the worst kind and misses the real issue by many a mile. That issue is, of course, not about the decision itself but about who took it and about how it is perceived.