Ministers should start doing stuff' to help farmers and cut fuel costs, says Asda boss

"Allan Leighton stated, 'The government has to stand up and start doing stuff that helps people,' emphasizing the need for support for farmers facing rising costs."

"Leighton warned of 'temporary shortages' at petrol stations, attributing this to the conflict in the Middle East and rising fuel prices, which have reached 150p a litre."

"He noted that consumer confidence is declining, saying, 'We measure it every week through surveys, and it is clearly going down as a result of the conflict.'"

"Leighton highlighted the volatility of cost increases across commodities, stating, 'I do believe it will create inflation,' reflecting concerns over rising food prices."

Asda's executive chair, Allan Leighton, warned that food prices will rise due to the conflict in the Middle East, affecting farmers and consumers. He noted that while there have been few requests for price increases from suppliers, pressures from higher fuel, energy, and fertilizer costs are significant. Leighton criticized the government for benefiting from fuel duties and urged it to support farmers. He also mentioned a decline in consumer confidence and potential shortages at petrol stations due to supply issues.

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