In part, it’s reported to be a “fight against gentrification”, which must be nonsense — in Walthamstow, that particular horse has long bolted the stable. There’s some politics being thrown about too — Luke Johnson, the chain’s part-owner and chairman, has been vocally pro-Brexit, but rather anti climate activists — which E17 sorts are said to be none too happy with. The bigger thing, though, seems to be a hope to preserve what already exists. The petition reads: “Gails, although respected for their quality, bring a risk of overshadowing our much-loved local stores due to their massive scale and advertising reach.