Andy Burnham calls for Poundland executives to work with Government to save stores
Prime minister and Makerfield MP Andy Burnham has urged Poundland’s owners to try to save jobs.
Poundland’s owners need to find a “practical solution” to keep stores open and save jobs, Andy Burnham has said.
The prime minister’s comments came as business secretary Jonathan Reynolds was set to meet the chain’s US-based owners Gordon Brothers amid Government criticism of their handling of the retailer.
Poundland filed a notice to appoint administrators last week, putting the future of its roughly 11,000 workers at risk.
It has shops in Wigan’s Grand Arcade shopping centre and Leigh town centre, as well as a distribution centre in Ashton, which is part of Mr Burnham’s Makerfield constituency.
Gordon Brothers, which only bought Poundland last year for £1 and launched a sale process for the company at the start of September, is under pressure to accept a bid to save the retailer, which is on the brink of collapse despite interest from several major supermarket chains.
Asked what his message was to Poundland’s executives, Mr Burnham said: “Focus on the people in your employment.
“Meet with the business secretary because we are setting up that meeting. Come up with a practical solution that saves jobs and saves those stores because many of them are viable propositions.
“They’re on high streets. They matter in our communities. There is a solution to be found here. Sit down with us and let’s find it.”
He said the Government was “prepared to find what we can do” to help save the chain.