Johnson appoints ex-tesco boss to clear supply ‘blockages’
THE Prime Minister has made an overture to business by appointing a former Tesco boss as his supply chain tsar.
Sir David Lewis was yesterday named as a new adviser to Boris Johnson to help clear “current blockages” and work on “pre-empting potential future ones” in the flow of goods, Downing Street said.
The former supermarket chief executive will advise the Prime Minister and Steve Barclay, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on both immediate improvements and any necessary longterm changes to UK supply chains.
He will also co-chair a new supply chain advisory group and will be based in the Cabinet Office.
The role was announced in the wake of a fierce business backlash against Mr Johnson this week, after he blamed industry for labour shortages, saying firms had relied for too long on foreign workers willing to accept low wages.
Mr Johnson used his party conference speech to accuse businesses of failing to invest sufficiently in employees, suggesting recent economic disruption – ranging from the crisis at the petrol pumps to some shortages on supermarket shelves – was their fault.
Signalling a softening of tone and willingness to listen to industry yesterday, however, the Prime Minister said: “I’m pleased that Sir David Lewis is joining the team who have been working on future-proofing our supply chains across the United Kingdom as we recover from the pandemic.”
Acknowledging the Government also has a part to play alongside business, he continued: “There are currently global supply issues which we are working with industry to mitigate and Dave brings a wealth of experience, which will help us continue to protect our businesses and supply chains.”
Tony Danker, the director-general of the industry group CBI, said the announcement showed the Government was “willing to listen to and work in partnership with business”.
Sir David’s role will help ensure ministers are “better informed about the nature and scale of the challenges” that lie ahead on supply chains, he added.
Hannah Essex, the co-executive director of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), also welcomed the move, noting that “for several weeks we have been calling on Government to get round the table with business and work together to find solutions to the big challenges facing firms large and small”.
The BCC’S latest quarterly economic survey suggested the country’s recovery is on “shaky ground”, as more than two thirds of businesses have yet to report any improvement in investment or cash flow.