Election on the horizon | Viewpoint: James Lowman

Last year saw a huge boost in the profile of shop theft in the media and with senior figures on both sides of the aisle, with commitments from Police & Crime Commissioners across England and Wales to tackle the issue of theft and abuse against retailers and their colleagues.

It is clear that more needs to be done to deal with prolific offenders, but with prisons and courts under huge pressure, we may be seeing some more creative solutions being put forward.

A new (or revised) public health strategy is likely to be a cornerstone of the Labour manifesto and will surely make an appearance for the Conservatives too, so it’s up to us to explain the impact any future interventions will have on our sector.

Up to this year, the Low Pay Commission has been tasked with reaching two-thirds of median earnings, but beyond that there’s no formal remit for the commission to adhere to.

It would be very easy for the main political parties to start throwing higher and higher numbers back and forth without considering the negative implications for businesses.

Finally, for the 8,000-plus forecourt retailers operating in our sector, there will be a lot of attention on whether the roadmap to 2035 moves after the election and whether the next government wants to push an accelerated green agenda to stop the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles.

This, plus addressing the challenges associated with electric charging infrastructure, will be an important battleground for the main parties.

If any independent retailers would like to host a store visit to speak to prospective candidates, get in touch with the ACS and we can help to set something up.

James Lowman is chief executive at the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS)