Tough new laws could be brought in to tackle ‘profiteering’ in crisis
THE PRIME Minister has indicated he may introduce laws to crack down on profiteering during the coronavirus crisis after the issue was raised by a Yorkshire MP.
Rother Valley Tory Alexander Stafford last week called for emergency laws to deal with “predatory, vicious, and uncaring [...] black-market profiteers” who had hiked their prices and hoarded goods to resell to desperate punters as the coronavirus crisis worsened.
Today at Prime Ministers’ Questions he asked Boris Johnson: “Can the Prime Minister assure me that he’s in regular contact with supermarkets and suppliers to ensure that goods are getting to the shelves where they are needed and will he join me in calling on people to only take what they need, not to stockpile and to stamp out the disgusting
ALEXANDER STAFFORD: scourge of black market profiteering?”
Mr Johnson responded: “Yes indeed, and I think that profiteering is something that we should be looking at from a legislative point of view in this House as has happened before in this country.
“But I can tell him that the supermarkets do have adequate supplies, our supply chains as (Mr Stafford) knows are very good. We’ve relaxed delivery hours, but it is very, very important everybody in their shopping acts reasonably and considerably for other people.”
Boris Johnson, at the close of outgoing Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s last PMQs, also paid tribute to his “determination to build a better society”.
The pair came head-to-head at the despatch box for the final time, with Mr Corbyn set to leave his role next month.
Mr Corbyn joked the Prime Minister’s remarks were “some kind of obituary” before stressing he will continue his campaign work, noting: “My voice will not be stilled.”
Speaking at PMQs, Mr Johnson said: “We may not agree on everything but no-one can doubt his sincerity and determination to build a better society.”