Shareholders have showed their emphatic support for Sir Stuart Rose voting 94.1 per cent in favour of his re-election as executive chairman at this afternoon’s AGM.

Shareholders have showed their emphatic support for Sir Stuart Rose voting 94.1 per cent in favour of his re-election as executive chairman at this afternoon’s AGM.

Rose has staunchly defended his promotion to the dual role of Chairman and chief executive with the board voicing their support for the move. Just over half the eligible votes were cast.

Some investors vocally supported the choice that the M&S board had made with others disputing the decision that the retailer’s promotion remained in line with corporate governance.

Shareholders heckled when the issue of free plastic bags arose with a split in opinion across the gathered shareholders, mainly elderly private investors.