UK retail stores need to remain open after the 3rd lockdown: Ocado chairman

Gulf Today Report 

It is paramount for Britain’s retail sector to remain open after the latest coronavirus lockdown, sector veteran Stuart Rose said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is moving towards a third lockdown which has closed all non-essential shops on Feb.22.

"The short term need is for us to have some clarity. We need to have confidence that when we re-open again we will stay open," Rose, the current chairman of Ocado and a former boss of Marks & Spencer, told BBC radio. 

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"Businesses are not designed to stop and start, you just cannot do that,” he added.

The retail sector veteran also called on the finance minister to hold on increasing tax in his March 3 budget statement.

"Let's not change tax rates, let's not do anything with VAT, let's make sure that we actually give people the confidence of knowing that nothing will change in the short term."

 Rose said the government should also maintain its furlough support scheme for workers and extend a business rates holiday for retail.