Outraged Iceland customers have threatened to boycott the frozen food retailer following its boss reportedly supporting the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda.
On Thursday’s BBC Question Time, Walker said: “This this is horrific issue it needs to be dealt with a lot of humanity. I think perhaps my, my kind of liberal gut instinct was that we shouldn’t offshore our problems. But when you take a step back, the businessman in me knows that we’ve got to break the business model of the people, traffickers who are trading on human misery and suffering.”
“What is inhumane? What is shameless is what’s happening today and yesterday and will happen tomorrow, which is allowing people to cross the channel overladen with women and children and unsafe boats, risking that crossing.”
Walker added that he had “no other alternative solutions, but in the absence of other solutions, I think this is obviously controversial. It’s obviously a bold idea, but if it can happen in the numbers that the government is saying, then actually that would break the business model and it would stop something that has been happening for far too long.”
READ MORE: Furious Iceland shoppers feel ‘conned’ by 1p sale
“We need to get a grip of it,” he said.
Responding to the comments Iceland customers have taken to social media to express their anger about the topic and even threatening to boycott the retailer.
One social media user said: “The managing director of Iceland Foods, Richard Walker has shown support for the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda a boycott of Iceland shops is now essential to send a message we do not support Richard Walkers vile views.”
The managing director of @IcelandFoods Richard Walker has shown support for the deportation of Asylum Seekers to Rwanda
A boycott of Iceland shops is now essential to send a message we do not support Richard Walkers vile views.— THE BLACK SALTIRE#FBSI (@80_mcswan) June 18, 2022
Another social media user added: “The list of unethical supermarkets is getting longer and longer. They’ll be none left soon…”
The list of unethical supermarkets is getting longer and longer. They'll be none left soon…#boycotticeland #Mumsnotgoingtoiceland https://t.co/53772ZAk8F
— AltraLaw 🇺🇦 #FBPE (@AltraLaw) June 18, 2022
One social media user even questioned if Iceland would be “providing the flight meals” on the deportation flights?
FREE?DOM
Is Iceland providing the in flight meals on the deportation flights to Rwanda? https://t.co/u5p5vyljBV
— 🇬🇧 🇪🇺Kevin Wilson 🇪🇺 🇬🇧 🇺🇦🌻🙏🌻🇺🇦 (@KevinLondonUK) June 18, 2022
Grocery Gazette has contacted Iceland for comment.
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