Simon Lightwood, Labour Member of Parliament for Wakefield, has asked the Government what they are doing to prevent the closure of the 400 Wilko stores in the UK, including the one on Kirkgate in Wakefield city centre.
The company is under serious threat of closure after talks to find a buyer fell through earlier this month, leading to administrators having to be called in. Late on Friday, a last-minute bid was received by the administrators, PwC, sparking hopes that the company may be saved.
Mr Lightwood has written to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Kemi Badenoch MP, to ask what support the Government will put in place for employees who are made redundant, to find new employment. He also asked what protections will be in place to prevent workers being made redundant without the requisite notice period. Mr Lightwood also pressed the government on what they are doing to encourage the sale of Wilkos, in order to save as many of the stores and jobs as possible.
This comes after the GMB Union called on the Business Secretary to meet them to discuss the possible sale of the company and support for the 12,500 employees.
Simon Lightwood MP said,
“Wilkos is an iconic brand of UK high streets providing a cheap and reliable range of products for communities up and down the country. Sadly, stories of high street chains having financial trouble is nothing new.”
“I am really concerned about what the closure of Wilko stores will mean for the 12,500 staff especially in the current cost of living crisis, particularly those working in the Kirkgate store.”
“I hope that the government will do all it can to help facilitate a buyer for the company and also support any employees whose jobs are lost as a result of any store closures.”