The ice-cream maker Ben & Jerry’s has become embroiled in a row with Boris Johnson’s government over its handling of the migrant crisis in the English Channel, in a new sign of how companies are using political controversy to generate publicity.
In a bust-up probably convenient to both sides, the company called on home secretary Priti Patel to show more “humanity” in dealing with the marked increase in migrants attempting to cross the Channel as people smugglers take advantage of calm seas and warm summer weather.
One Home Office official retaliated by branding Ben & Jerry’s a purveyor of “overpriced junk food”, insisting that Ms Patel’s tough stance in dealing with migrants crossing from France would not be affected by criticism from an ice-cream maker’s social media team.