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Richard Walker, the executive chairman of Iceland supermarket chain and a former Conservative supporter, is set to be appointed as a Labour peer. The move marks a significant political shift for the businessman, who quit the Conservatives in 2023 and backed Labour at last year's general election.
Walker is expected to be among around 25 new members of the House of Lords appointed by Sir Keir Starmer in the coming weeks, according to the Sun on Sunday. The appointments aim to address Labour's numerical disadvantage in the upper chamber, where the party currently trails the Conservatives by almost 50 seats.
The Iceland boss explained his political journey by saying the Tories had "moved away" from him, while Labour had "moved towards the centrist pragmatic views that I've long held". He had previously donated to the Conservative Party and explored standing for Parliament under their banner.
Walker's advocacy work
Walker has championed several social and environmental causes during his business career. He has campaigned to cap baby formula prices and reduce plastic use in retail.
Earlier this year, he announced a £1 reward for Iceland customers who report shoplifters, arguing this helps businesses lower prices.
Political response
A Labour source welcomed the appointment, describing Walker as a "committed champion for families dealing with the cost of living". The source added: «Richard Walker is a committed champion for families dealing with the cost of living – from campaigning to make infant formula more affordable to helping customers avoid loan sharks. He will be a strong voice in Parliament and we are delighted to welcome him.»
The batch of new appointments will narrow the numerical gap in the Lords, where Liberal Democrat and Crossbench peers have helped delay and force concessions on key legislation, including Labour's flagship Employment Rights Bill. However, Labour will still trail the Conservatives by nearly 50 seats until the Government fulfills its manifesto commitment to remove hereditary peers.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
