Web giant is taking over our lives, says retail boss

AMAZON’S tentacles are reaching into every aspect of our lives and it could one day use its dominance to exploit the public, a leading retailer has warned.

The US internet retailer has been expanding into an ever-larger range of markets and consumers are increasingly dependent on it, Sir John Timpson said.

He fears that unless urgent action is taken, Amazon and other internet giants will eventually be so powerful they can charge unfair prices. ‘You feel all the tentacles of Amazon moving round you, and they’re going to grab the whole of our lives,’ he told the BBC. ‘One day, once they’ve got all that market share, they will be in a position to exploit it. That’s the danger.’

Speaking later to the Daily Mail, Sir John, owner of key cutting and shoe repair chain Timpson, also called for an overhaul of business rates to boost the high street.

He said proposals by Tesco boss Dave Lewis for a 2 per cent online sales tax should be considered. And he threw his weight behind the Mail’s campaign to reform business rates to help high street shops.