Solving UK driver shortages needs government help -Co-op CEO

"This won't be solved in isolation, this is a global issue where the supply chain has completely broken down," Chief Executive Steve Murrells told Reuters on Thursday. "You can't solve (a shortage of) 90,000 HGV drivers in isolation, it needs a structural change," he said.

Solving Britain's dire shortage of truck drivers needs government intervention, the boss of supermarket group the Co-operative said on Thursday. "This won't be solved in isolation, this is a global issue where the supply chain has completely broken down," Chief Executive Steve Murrells told Reuters on Thursday.

"You can't solve (a shortage of) 90,000 HGV drivers in isolation, it needs a structural change," he said. Murrells welcomed the announcement on Wednesday that minister Michael Gove will lead the UK government's response to the crisis and joined industry calls for HGV drivers to be added to the shortage occupation list so foreign workers can plug the gap.

Gove, previously the cabinet office minister, was moved to be housing, communities and local government minister in Prime Minister Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle.