Keir Starmer’s cost of living tsar, who is the chair of Iceland, has offered a job to a worker who was sacked from Waitrose after trying to stop a shoplifter.
Waitrose has faced a public outcry over its treatment of Walker Smith after the Guardian reported he was fired two days after he stopped the shoplifter taking items from an Easter egg display, including Lindt chocolate bunnies.
Richard Walker responded by offering Smith a job at an Iceland store. In a LinkedIn post, he wrote: “You’re welcome to a job with us. We even share the same name … ”
An Iceland spokesperson confirmed that the supermarket chain had been in touch with Smith and offered him a job. It is understood Smith was interviewed on Tuesday afternoon and that conversations in connection to the role are progressing rapidly. An Iceland source said they were impressed with the interview and he seemed like a “dedicated retail colleague”.
Walker was made a peer by Starmer last year and was appointed this year as the government’s cost of living champion, advising No 10 on how to help struggling households.
Members of the public have started a fundraiser for the sacked shop worker to help with his rent and bills, which has raised more than £7,500.
Smith, 54, who was sacked from the Clapham Junction branch, had worked at Waitrose for 17 years. He said he grabbed the shoplifter’s bag but the shoplifter snatched it back. A brief struggle followed, the bag snapped and the items fell to the floor.
Smith said one of the bunnies broke into pieces and he picked up a piece and “threw it out of frustration” towards some shopping trolleys. He insisted he did not aim at the shoplifter as they fled.
He said he had apologised to his manager for his role in the incident, having previously been instructed not to approach suspected shoplifters. He said he was frustrated because he had seen shoplifting “happen every hour of every day for the last five years”.
On Sunday, Smith posted on social media thanking the public for their support and asking for help to find 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 decision to sack Smith, saying in a statement: “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.”
It added: “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 have criticised Waitrose for sacking Smith and failing to reinstate him. Nigel Farage said in a post on his X account: “We are now a country that favours criminals over law enforcers.”
The shadow home secretary, Chris Philp, called on Waitrose to reinstate Smith, accusing the supermarket of acting “disgracefully”.
