Tesco defends 20,000 'new' job claim

The man in charge of Tesco's huge UK business has defended the firm's commitment to "create 20,000 new jobs" in 2012.

Britan's biggest retailer, which already employs 290,000 staff across Britain, announced the initiative this morning, saying the intention was to improve the in-store customer experience.

Commentators have responded with scepticism, wondering whether the jobs are "re-announcements" or simply the movement of staff between different locations.

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But Tesco's UK boss, Richard Brasher, told Sky News: "We are not counting people who move around our business....These are real net new jobs, and that's what we stand behind".

Tesco shares have dropped 20% this year after the firm reported weak sales at its UK stores during 2011. The company has since prioritised the core British business after several years of expansion in Eastern Europe, Asia and the US.

BS