Richard Walker, the outspoken Iceland boss, has shared details of a contentious exchange with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak over food banks.
The Daily Mirror reports that the heated conversation took place in 2022, during a meeting discussing Walker’s aspirations to stand as a Conservative MP.
Sunak accused Walker of making statements that were politically inconvenient when he spoke about the rising use of food banks. “Sunak told me he was shocked that I wanted to be a Tory candidate because he thought I was some Leftie,” Walker told the newspaper. “My remarks about food banks on the day of his Spring statement had put him in a tough spot.”
Walker has been an outspoken advocate on various social and environmental issues. Under his tenure, Iceland has taken bold steps to address climate change, plastic waste and the cost-of-living crisis affecting UK families.
This stance has positioned Iceland as a retailer with a strong voice on key issues. Just recently the retailer’s ‘Frozen Out’ manifesto revealed that consumers do not feel represented by politicians. Despite the tensions with government, the retailer continues to push forward with initiatives aimed at sustainability and supporting vulnerable communities.
However, Walker’s public positions have often clashed with Conservative Party directives. His bid to become a Tory MP was ultimately blocked, a decision Walker attributes to his high media profile and independent stance.
Walker’s growing discontent with the Conservative Party culminated in his resignation from the party in 2022. Walker said, “If I’m not allowed to talk about critical issues like the state of our rivers or champion net-zero policies, then I don’t want to be part of that. The party wanted people who would just follow orders, but I couldn’t conform to that.”
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