What: John Lewis Chairwoman asks the government for a call to action for the current state of town centres and retail crime.

Why it is important: Around 6,000 stores have closed down and there is hesitancy around opening a physical retail front due to high crime rates and antisocial behaviour.

Sharon White, chairwoman of John Lewis, suggests the establishment of a Royal Commission to assess the health of towns and explore strategies for revitalization, which would be the first such commission since the Victorian era. White also highlights additional challenges faced by high streets, including unfair business rates, outdated planning rules, and the impact of traffic changes and clean air zones.

John Lewis boss calls for government reform