Labour's cost of living czar quits after less than six months with warning to Andy Burnham that it’s ‘damn hard to get anything done’ in Government
By SAM MERRIMAN, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
Published: 11:56 EDT, 21 July 2026 \| Updated: 12:01 EDT, 21 July 2026
Labour's cost of living czar has quit with a warning to Andy Burnham that it is ‘damn hard to get anything done’ in Government.
Lord Richard Walker, the Iceland supermarket boss, said the new Prime Minister ‘doesn’t have time for resets and delays’ as he announced his role had ‘expired’ following Keir Starmer’s departure.
Lord Walker was brought in under Sir Keir in February to help fix Britain’s affordability crisis, but Labour’s ‘Cost of Living Champion’ has now left the role after less than six months.
In a parting verdict on his time advising the Government, the executive chairman of Iceland Foods warned Mr Burnham that ‘it’s damn hard to get anything done’.
‘Plans are all very good, but daily political machinations consume everything,’ he added.
Lord Walker also said that restrictions on official communications to people within No 10 mean that ‘anyone from the outside with fresh ideas’ can be frozen out.
And the Labour peer warned Mr Burnham that No 10 ‘as a building is not fit for purpose’ as the ‘17th Century rabbit-warren design makes collaborative co-working impossible’.
Lord Richard Walker, the boss of supermarket Iceland, said the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham ‘doesn’t have time for resets and delays’
Lord Walker was brought in under Sir Keir Starmer in February to help fix Britain’s affordability crisis, but Labour’s ‘Cost of Living Champion’ has now left the role after less than six months
Lord Walker said: ‘Therefore, a strong leader is absolutely critical to try and cut through - one with a clear sense of what they want to get done, communicates constantly and is as visible as possible.’
The supermarket boss also advised the Prime Minister that his proposal for a new Downing Street operation in Manchester dubbed 'No 10 North' must be ‘more than just a PR exercise’.
Lord Walker added: ‘I would move the cost of living remit into there and away from the Westminster bubble - to make policy work better for every part of the country.’
Former Greater Manchester mayor Mr Burnham has made having a base in the city a key plank of his 'new approach', however it has been branded a ‘gimmick’ by critics after it emerged the proposed location will not be ready to use until 2032.
Until then No 10 North will be based at existing Government offices in Manchester where the so-called 'King of the North' can work while away from Downing Street.
Lord Walker’s departure comes amid a ruthless clear out of Sir Keir’s backers, with Mr Burnham sacking Rachel Reeves, David Lammy, Lord Hermer and a string of his predecessor's closest Cabinet allies within hours of taking office.