Riddikulus!
Sunak claims Tories ‘doing all we can’ to fight shortages as Harry Potter gifts latest to be hit
THE supply crisis threatens to cast a dark spell over Christmas festivities.
Yesterday Chancellor Rishi Sunak insisted ministers are doing “everything” to tackle shortages and tried to dampen down public alarm.
Speaking after a meeting in the US, he blamed global problems for port delays and added: “I’m confident there will be a good amount of Christmas presents available.”
But his words came amid more evidence of looming Christmas shortages with shop owners saying some Harry Potter merchandise has sold out.
Elvijs Plugis, co-owner of London’s House of Spells, said: “A Harry Potter wand used to be £20, now it’s going to be £35 to £40. Shops are running out of stock.” And Labour leader Keir
Starmer blamed the Government for not being better prepared.
On a visit to a Sheffield steel plant, he said: “At the moment the Government is saying this is somebody else’s problem.”
Meanwhile, a distributor plans to fly in 300,000 Elves Behavin’ Badly dolls as nearly a million are stuck in Chinese ports.
Some popular toy ranges are being hugely marked up on resale sites. A Minecraft Lego set recommended to retail at £49.99 is currently £179 on eBay. Distribution has been hit by bottlenecks at ports, especially Felixstowe, worsened by a lack of lorry drivers. The owner of budget chain Poundland said shipping costs had risen tenfold. Elsewhere, Waitrose reported strong demand for Christmas online delivery slots with turkey orders up 54% and orders for other goods up sharply. The Government last night announced plans to boost festive deliveries by temporarily extending HGV “cabotage”. It will mean foreign lorry drivers who come to the UK with goods can pick up and drop off goods unlimited times for two weeks before returning home.