Tory MP slammed for saying supermarket chaos is a ‘great opportunity

West Dorset MP Chris Loder branded supermarkets “commercial predators” and argued that farmers would be able to sell their milk in the village shop if logistics chains collapsed

A Tory MP has been slammed for claiming that the supply chain chaos causing empty shelves could be a great opportunity for Britain.

West Dorset MP Chris Loder branded supermarkets “commercial predators” and argued that farmers would be able to sell their milk in the village shop if logistics chains collapsed.

His comments to a Tory conference event came as Boris Johnson admitted that food and fuel shortages could last until Christmas.

Shoppers have faced empty shelves and queues at petrol forecourts in recent weeks due to labour shortages.

But Mr Loder suggested the chaos facing consumers could have long-term benefits.

“I think actually one great opportunity we have from the issues we see at the moment is actually for some of these supermarket supply chains to crumble,” Mr Loder told a fringe event, in comments reported by The Guardian.

He went on: “I know it might not feel like it in the immediate term. But it is in our mid and long-term interest that these logistics chains do break.

“It will mean that the farmer down the street will be able to sell their milk in the village shop like they did decades ago.

“It is because these commercial predators – that is the supermarkets – have wiped that out and I’d like to see that come back.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak slapped him down when asked about the comments on Monday.

He told Sky News: “I don’t think anyone would say there’s an upside to people struggling with supply chain challenges and not being able to get what they want at the time they want it. No-one wants to see that.

“What we’ve said more broadly is over time one of our desires is to transition ourselves to a higher wage, high skill economy, more productive economy.”

Labour Party chair Anneliese Dodds said families were being plunged into crisis while some Tories were prepared to let shelves go empty for the sake of “sepia-tinted fantasies”.

She said: “It didn’t take long for the mask to slip at Conservative Party conference. That some Tories appear happy to see Britain’s supermarket shelves go empty for the sake of their sepia-tinted fantasies really beggars belief.

“Britain’s supermarkets are the lifeblood of our economy and help put food on millions of British tables. The Conservatives need to get back to the real world and get a grip on the crises working people are facing.”