Doug Gurr, UK manager for the US online giant, issued the warning on Friday
Amazon’s UK chief is facing a backlash today after claiming there could be civil unrest within two weeks if Britain leaves the EU with no deal.
Doug Gurr issued the extraordinary warning at a meeting on Friday organised by Brexit secretary Dominic Raab.
Gurr, UK manager for the US online giant, implied there could be riots and protests when he made the remarks in front of representatives of Britain’s biggest businesses.
Attendees were said to have been shocked by his assessment, with some expressing scepticism.
And Brexiteers were incensed, suggesting the firm was worried it would be made to pay more tax after the UK leaves the EU.
A spokesman for Amazon refused to confirm or deny the remarks.
But the spokesman told the Times: ‘Like any business, we consider a wide range of scenarios in planning discussions so that we’re prepared to continue serving customers and small businesses who count on Amazon, even if those scenarios are very unlikely.
‘This is not specific to any one issue — it’s the way we plan for any number of issues around the world.’
Dover MP Charlie Elphicke said: ‘Out of Europe we will be able to take back control of our tax system – including making @amazon collect UK VAT as they are now required to do in Australia.
‘No wonder they want us to sign up to stop us doing that.’
Tory former minister Robert Halfon said: ‘More likely to be civil unrest when Amazon delivery drones drop packages in wrong garden/or front drive.’
Fellow Conservative Marcus Fysh said: ‘Time to make @amazon contribute to rather than asset strip the UK retail environment.’
In his first television interview since becoming Brexit secretary earlier this month, Mr Raab accused Brussels yesterday of ‘irresponsibly’ ramping up pressure in withdrawal negotiations.
Mr Raab was scathing about comments from Brussels stating that a no deal scenario would mean there would be no specific arrangements in place for UK citizens living on the continent, or for EU migrants in Britain after withdrawal.
‘I think that’s a rather irresponsible thing to be coming from the other side. We ought to be trying to reassure citizens on the Continent and also here,’ he told The Andrew Marr Show on BBC One.
Tory MPs gave a withering response to the dire warnings from Amazon’s UK chief
Brexit secretary Dominic Raab (left) and EU Chief Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier shake hands at Brexit talks last Thursday
‘There is obviously an attempt to try and ramp up the pressure.’
Mr Raab said that he would return to Brussels for talks on Thursday and try everything he could to get the best deal.
Asked if reports the Government was planning to stockpile food for a no deal outcome were true, Mr Raab said: ‘No. That kind of selective snippet that makes it into the media I think is – to the extent that the public pay attention to it – I think is unhelpful.’