Comment: Labour’s attack on Pessina shows disrespect for retail

Retail has had to bear more than its fair share of criticism as a consequence of the growing anti-business agenda that has crept into British politics over the past few years. But that worrying trend took an ugly and personal turn this week with the attack by Labour’s leadership on Boots boss Stefano Pessina.

Responding to an interview with Pessina in the national media that questioned whether a Labour government would be helpful for business or the country, Labour leader Ed Miliband struck back. He labelled one of retail’s most famous deal-makers a “tax exile from Monaco” who ought to “pay his taxes” rather than “lecture people” on how to vote.

Retailers have long felt sidelined by the short shrift from politicians of all hues to the value of this industry.

Yet even against this backdrop, Miliband’s attack shows a staggering ignorance of the contribution a business such as Boots plays in the British economy and the personal achievements of Pessina in taking one of the UK’s most famous high street names and transforming it into a global powerhouse.

Boots has pointed out that it now pays 50% more tax than it did when it was registered on the London Stock exchange in 2007, before it merged with Alliance and began a journey that has made it a lynchpin in Pessina’s vision of a global, pharmacy-led health business. Moreover, it employs over 70,000 UK employees, serves millions of British customers and has been a vocal advocate of the country’s high streets and the role they play in local communities, when politicians have looked frankly powerless to stem their decline.

Boots boss Stefano Pessina’s comments on Labour were met with harsh criticism from Ed Miliband – does this sideline retail sentiment?

Whether you agree with Pessina’s views or not, to argue now that the leader of a business that touches so many lives has no right to enter the political debate is shocking.

And yet, perhaps retailers should be encouraged by the furore surrounding this clash. The debate it has provoked from every corner is a welcome sign that retail’s leaders do indeed have the ability to shape the national debate.

Tony Blair once said that he knew Labour had lost the 2010 election when it lost the support of business. “Once you lose them [chief executives], you lose more than a few votes. You lose your economic credibility,” he said.

Political leaders across the spectrum know this to be true. And as the election battle heats up, the window of opportunity for retailers to influence policy pledges will widen.

Retail’s leaders must not be cowed by this latest slight on the industry. And, while the political parties campaign for power the industry must redouble its own efforts to campaign for the influence that it so obviously deserves.

• Chris Brook-Carter, Editor-in-chief