Iceland Food executive chairman Richard Walker has been appointed by Keir Starmer as the UK’s new cost of living champion.
The voluntary position is directly appointed by the prime minister. It will see Walker work with No 10’s policy unit to shape policy to help people cope with the cost of living crisis.
His focus will be cross sector focusing on how “household budgets can go further” during the ongoing cost of living crisis. He will look at issues like energy prices, loan sharks, childcare funding and breakfast clubs.
It follows Walker’s appointment to the House of Lords as a Labour peer in the new year, further cementing his influence in UK politics, having previously sought selection as a Conservative candidate to stand as an MP.
Walker has spearheaded the rollout of Iceland’s award-winning microloan scheme. The innovative programme – which launched in 2022 in partnership with ethical lender Fair For You – offers shoppers prepaid cards they can use to purchase groceries in Iceland stores.
Walker is also chairman of the supermarket group’s charitable foundation and has publicly campaigned on a range of cost of living as well as environmental and health issues.
He will bring a “wealth of experience as a British entrepreneur and business leader,” No 10 claimed. He will work to enhance relationships with businesses and regulators, as well as provide practical advice and insights to policymakers.
“I’ve taken on this role for one reason: to get real results for families on the cost of living,” Walker said. “Not to talk about it, but to help government focus on the things that genuinely make a difference.”
Walker added: “I’ll be bringing real-world business experience and a sense of urgency to this work, looking at the everyday areas that eat into household budgets and where consumers get a rough deal. Regulators are trying, but we need to be bolder in standing up for consumers and turning intent into action.”
No comments yet