The pandemic has shown us how our town centres can be saved, now we just need the political will to do it

Thousands more retail jobs will go but, with co-ordinated efforts and some bold ideas, a positive new vision of the high street is possible, writes Ben Chapman

In announcing thousands of job cuts on Tuesday, M&S joined other famous names like John Lewis, Selfridges, Debenhams and WH Smith (iStock)

“Don’t ask the price. It’s a penny,” Michael Marks used to say when the department store chain that now bears his name was merely a market stall in Leeds.

135 years later and Marks & Spencer has a far more up-market reputation and £10bn in turnover, but is not immune from the pain enveloping Britain’s retailers.