The supermarket giant’s chief financial officer Alan Stewart has written to bosses of its bricks-and-mortar competitors to sound out appetite for the new levy.

Tesco supremo Dave Lewis wants the government to slash business rates by 20% and make up the shortfall with a 2% tax on all online sales in a bid to level the playing field between traditional retailers and ecommerce giants such as Amazon.

According to the Press Association, Stewart has sent the letter drumming up support to at least three other major supermarkets. Leaders of non-food retailers are also understood to have received the note.