Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has today written to the Director of UK Corporate Affairs at Heinz, urging him to reconsider the company’s decision to withdraw an advert that featured two men kissing.

In his letter, Clegg said that he was “disappointment” and “shocked” by the decision to withdraw the Deli Mayonnaise advert this week adding that the sight of two men kissing affectionately should “not be considered offensive or controversial.”

“I am writing to express my disappointment at Heinz’s decision to withdraw the Deli Mayonnaise advert this week,” Clegg said in his letter.

“The depiction of a same-sex kiss in this advert was innocent both in tone and content, and I am shocked that you decided to withdraw it.

“While I understand that some people in Britain today are uncomfortable with same-sex relationships, such prejudice should not be condoned by an organisation of your size and stature.

“The sight of two men kissing affectionately should not be considered offensive or controversial. This is particularly the case in an advertisement which was so rich in irony and double-meaning.

“The decision to withdraw it has not only offended many gay, lesbian, transgender - and straight - people, it also represents a backward step in attempts to combat homophobia in Britain today, not to mention a collective loss of humour.

“I am asking you to reverse this decision and reinstate the advert.”

A petition asking Heinz to reinstate the Deli Mayo TV advert has so far received over 9,000 signatures, while only 202 people originally complained to the Advertising Standards Authority about the "offensive", "inappropriate" and "unsuitable to be seen by children" advert.

Stonewall and GaydarRadio are urging Britain’s 3.6 million gay consumers to boycott Heinz and buy alternative products instead.

"We're shocked that an innocuous ad should have been withdrawn in this way. I can't imagine that Heinz would respond to protests about black people featuring in their adverts,” Ben Summerskill, the chief executive of gay Stonewall, said.

“We find Branston Baked Beans, Baxters Soups, Buitoni Spaghetti, Jardines Tomato Ketchup and Hellmann’s Mayonnaise all to be much more delicious than their Heinz counterparts and encourage people offended by Heinz’s decision to try them.”

David Muniz, commercial director at Gaydar, points out that “If Heinz had announced they were pulling the ad because it hadn’t worked creatively I could have understood it, but what they went on to say was nothing short of offensive and insensitive to the gay community."

Leading the GaydarRadio boycott campaign is presenter Simon Le Vans who said that Heinz were “gutless” and “extremely homophobic”.

If you feel strongly about this issue, then please sign the petition calling on Heinz to re-instate the Deli Mayo TV ad. www.petitiononline.com/heinz/petition.html

Watch the Heinz Deli Mayo ad below