// Tesco boss John Allan will lead new Covid Recovery Commission to revitalise UK economy
// Chancellor Rishi Sunak agreed to endorse but will not have a formal government mandate
// The panel will develop “bold” policy ideas for boosting UK productivity post-coronavirus
Tesco chairman John Allan is reportedly set to lead a committee of business leaders tasked with generating policy ideas for boosting the UK’s post-coronavirus economy.
Allan will chair the new Covid Recovery Commission, the launch of which will be announced on Friday, Sky News reported.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak had agreed to endorse it, but will not have a formal government mandate.
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The panel will aim to develop “bold” policy ideas for strengthening UK productivity, and encouraging business investment, as well as promoting innovation.
It will include a focus on how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the ‘levelling up’ agenda that was central to the Conservatives’ campaign ahead of last December’s general election.
Among the commission’s other members will be John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow Airport’s chief executive; Ruth Cairnie, chair of Babcock International; Manoj Badale, co-founder of the technology investor Blenheim Chalcot; and Sinead Lynch, chair of Shell UK.
It will also include executives from AstraZeneca, British Land and Vodafone.
The group had been established at the instigation of WPI Strategy, a political and economics consultancy.
The commission’s economic analysis will be overseen by Matthew Oakley, a former Treasury adviser.
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