THE chaos hitting Britain’s supply chains is of the Tories’ own making, Labour said today, as more than a quarter of food and hospitality firms report serious shortages.

A  recent business survey by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has found that 27 per cent of food and accommodation businesses are suffering from lower than normal stock levels, making it the worst-hit of all sectors.

Shortages were also reported by 23 per cent of manufacturers, as well as a quarter of retailers and motor vehicle repair companies.

Supermarkets also continue to report shelves being left bare, as worldwide supply issues and worker absences related to the Covid-19 pandemic combine with long-term lorry driver shortages, exacerbated by the Conservatives’ handling of Brexit, to inflict disruption across the country.

A lack of drivers led to nearly a fifth (18 per cent) of transport and storage industry firms being forced to pause or totally abandon trading this month, according to the ONS figures.

Shadow minister for business and consumers Seema Malhotra said Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Tory ministers had serious questions to answer.

“Their failure to keep their promise to cut red tape [post-Brexit] for businesses, which are struggling with more paperwork and higher costs, combined with worker shortages, has created a perfect storm.

“Whether it’s production grinding to a halt in our car factories, shelves emptying in supermarkets, or restaurants running out of food and drink, businesses are ringing the alarm and saying these problems are only going to get worse.”

The Feltham and Heston MP stressed ministers must listen to businesses and unions calling for them “to show leadership and put in place short-term solutions” to deal with the worsening crisis. 

“But they must also end their chronic dismissal of these concerns, having accused the industry of ‘crying wolf’ over driver shortages, and take action to deliver on the promise of post-Brexit Britain.”

Labour’s Hemsworth MP Jon Trickett demanded fundamental change to the way the economy works, with boosting pay and working conditions for staff in supply chains an immediate priority.

“Working people have been exploited for too long,” he told the Morning Star. “Meanwhile, the wealthy have been coining it.

“The shortages which now appear to be happening are in part a consequence of this whole failed approach.”

Parliamentary reporter @TrinderMatt