Amazon's UK boss has defended the online retailer's role in the UK economy while launching the first in a series of pop-up shops for firms using its marketplace. Doug Gurr told Sky's Ian King Live the year-long "clicks and mortar" pilot programme to help small online retailers reach high street shoppers was part of its commitment to UK firms and the wider economy. He spoke at the first test store - in Manchester - launched with support from Amazon that will see 10 of its small online retailers secure physical selling space for the first time. Ten pop-up shops are planned as the retail giant moves to counter complaints from major chains that it has contributed to the crisis facing the high street. Physical retailers accuse the government of presiding over a tax system that has failed to keep pace with the shift to online shopping - their main gripe being over a business rates formula that is weighted against high street premises.
