Lisa Wilkinson to be grilled by MPs over the collapse of Wilko costing 10,000 jobs

Wilko head honcho Lisa Wilkinson will speak publicly for the first time since the first time since firms collapse when she is grilled by MPs later today.

GMB National Officer Nadine Houghton will also give evidence to the Business and Trade Selection Committee.

Former Wilko workers are travelling from across the country to attend and hear Wilko chiefs explain why the company collapsed and why they lost their jobs. [Contact GMB press office to arrange interviews]

Nadine Houghton, GMB National Officer, said, “This will be the first time Wilko workers have heard from bosses about what went wrong and why the company was allowed to collapse.

“They’ve never received an apology or explanation from Lisa Wilkinson, despite many staff having dedicated decades of their lives to the business.

Tax deductions: Keep more of your money

“Wilko chiefs should know that GMB members will be there listening; they expect the answers they have been denied for so long.”

Also the former bosses of Wilko are to be questioned by MPs to explain why there is a £50 million shortfall in the companies pension fund.

They will also be questioned as to why they lined their own pockets” and dished out “millions to shareholders” leaving the company in debt.

Since the collapse of Wilko the Insolvency Service has paid almost 10,000 former workers £42 million. The agency has paid out statutory notice pay and redundancy which was owed to the staff affected.

Redundancy Payments Service (RPS), senior operations manager, Rob Graham said, “The whole RPS team has been working around the clock to make payments to former Wilko employees as quickly as possible.

“We know how difficult it is for former employees at times like these.”