Keir Starmer’s price of residing tsar, who’s the chair of Iceland, has provided a job to a employee who was sacked from Waitrose after attempting to cease a shoplifter.
Waitrose confronted public outcry over its treatment of Walker Smith, who was fired two days after he stopped the shoplifter taking gadgets from the Easter egg show, together with Lindt chocolate bunnies.
Richard Walker responded by providing Smith a job at one among his shops. In a LinkedIn submit, he wrote: “You’re welcome to a job with us. We even share the same name …”
An Iceland spokesperson confirmed to the Guardian that the grocery store chain had been in contact with Smith and provided him a job.
Lord Walker was appointed as a peer by Starmer final 12 months and was earlier this 12 months appointed the federal government’s price of residing champion, advising No 10 on how to assist struggling households.
Members of the general public have additionally began a fundraiser for the sacked store employee, to assist together with his hire and payments, which has on the time of writing had raised over £7,500.
Smith, 54, who was sacked from the Clapham Junction store, had labored at Waitrose for 17 years. He mentioned he had “grabbed the bag”, however that the shoplifter snatched it again. A short wrestle adopted, earlier than the bag snapped and the gadgets fell to the ground.
Smith mentioned one of many bunnies broke into items, and he picked up a chunk and “threw it out of frustration” in direction of some procuring trolleys, insisting he had not aimed on the shoplifter as they fled.
He mentioned he had apologised to his supervisor for his position within the incident, having beforehand been instructed not to strategy suspected shoplifters. Smith added that he was pissed off as a result of he had seen shoplifting “happen every hour of every day for the last five years”.
On Sunday, Smith made a social media submit thanking the general public for his or her assist and asking with assist to discover a job. He wrote: “I didn’t think it would blow up like this but now it has my priority is getting a job. I’m based in Clapham Junction so if you or anyone you know is looking for a reliable, conscientious employee please reach out.”
Waitrose has doubled down on its determination to sack Smith, and mentioned in an announcement: “There is a serious danger to life in tackling shoplifters. We refuse to put anyone’s life at risk and that’s why we have policies in place that are very clearly understood and must be strictly followed.
“As a responsible employer, we never want to be in a position where we are notifying families of a tragedy because someone tried to stop a theft. Nothing we sell is worth risking lives for.
“The reporting on this does not cover the full facts of the situation. While we would never be able to discuss an individual case, we can assure you the correct process is being followed, which includes a standard appeals procedure.”
Politicians had beforehand criticised Waitrose for sacking Smith and failing to reinstate him. Nigel Farage mentioned in a submit on his X account: “We are now a country that favours criminals over law enforcers.”
The shadow dwelling secretary, Chris Philp, referred to as on Waitrose to reinstate Smith, accusing the grocery store of appearing “disgracefully”.
