I know I’m not alone in being incredibly upset and worried about the impact the closure of Wilko will have on my constituency and further afield.

There are 400 Wilko stores across the country employing around 12,500 people and their closure will have a massive impact on high streets and my thoughts are with the staff and their families facing this dreadful news.

Sadly, shuttered up shops and struggling high streets has become the norm after 13 years of Conservative economic failure but Labour has a plan for our high streets.

We will scrap and replace the current system of business rates with a fully costed and funded system of business property taxation that levels the playing field so that our high streets can thrive; crack down on anti-social behaviour; and give councils powers to put an end to empty premises to bring shoppers back to the high street.

I have written to Kemi Badenoch, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, to outline my deep concerns.

Behind every one of these store closures are workers who will now lose their livelihood. 

The next few weeks will be crucial for these workers’ future, and in turn for their role within our economy during a cost of living crisis.

I therefore asked Ms Badenoch the following questions:

• What steps will you now take to ensure that the tens of thousands of Wilko staff, who could now be facing redundancy, will be supported into new employment?

• What are the government doing to ensure that proper, meaningful consultation is conducted by employers and administrators and that they are prevented from exploiting loopholes that allow for workers to be laid off without having complied with the full 45-day period as clearly stated under law?

• There is still the possibility that some stores may be bought, either as part of a package or individually. 

What options has the government considered to support the sale of Wilko stores and protect as many jobs as possible?

Wilko is not the first example of this tragedy and, without the government matching the ambition of Labour’s plans, I fear it will not be the last.