John Lewis staff rebuke Sharon White over losses but back her to continue

Retailer to remain employee-owned, vows chair after row about reported plans to sell stake in partnership to investors

The boss of John Lewis pledged the group will always remain employee-owned, no ifs, no buts", after staff backed her to continue as chair but expressed their dismay at the retailer's poor performance.

Dame Sharon White had faced controversy after reports she was considering selling a stake in the John Lewis Partnership, which also owns Waitrose, to an outside investor in an attempt to raise 2bn. On Wednesday, her leadership was tested in a confidence vote at a twice-yearly meeting of the retailer's 60-strong council, which is elected by employees to represent them.