Iceland boss quits Tories labelling party ‘out of touch’on September 30, 2023 at 10:31 pm

The boss of Iceland supermarkets, who had hoped to become a Conservative MP, has quit the party, labelling it “out of touch”.

The attack from Richard Walker came on the eve of the annual Conservative conference, as delegates gathered in Manchester.

Mr Walker told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that the party was losing touch with business and consumers.

The Conservatives declined to comment on the record.

But party sources told the BBC that Mr Walker had frequently criticised the government in public.

They added that he and his father had been lobbying very senior party figures over the summer, to try to secure Mr Walker a seat, while also pointing out that Labour had been in touch with him too.

Richard Walker’s father, Sir Malcolm Walker, was the founder of the Iceland supermarket chain.

Mr Walker – who has previously said he would like to be prime minister – had been on the Conservatives’ approved list of parliamentary candidates.

Mr Walker told Laura Kuenssberg: “It’s become clear to me over recent months that the Conservative Party are drifting out of touch with the needs of business, of the environment and the everyday people my business touches and serves.”

Announcing his decision to resign from the party earlier on Saturday, as well as withdrawing from the approved list of potential MPs, Mr Walker hit out at what he called a “sluggish economy” and “high levels of regional inequality”.

“Today’s reality is that we have a nominally Conservative government, yet I struggle to name a single thing they are actually conserving.

“Certainly not the business sector or our economy, the vitality of our high streets or the safety of my retail colleagues, our farming and rural communities, our rivers and seas, our net zero obligations, our NHS, our schools, our reputation for decency and fairness, or the future prosperity of our kids and grandkids.”

He claimed he was warned by senior Conservative figures that his outspoken views on the environment and social issues weren’t welcome, but he had concluded: “I won’t wear a gag to bag a seat.

“I am not prepared to change my values and principles to suit a party that has itself lost its way.”

Mr Walker had previously been vocal in his criticism of some Tory policies – including the plan of then-Prime Minister Liz Truss to scrap the top rate of income tax.

He has also previously spoken about the impact of rising prices on his customers, saying some have been forced to use food banks.

Earlier this week, he was forced to apologise after claiming that three staff contracted HIV as a result of needle attacks.

He said had made the comments “in error” in a draft article for Mail Online about threats of violence against store workers by shoplifters.