Family of former Vodafone manager found drowned call for ‘Adrian’s law’ to protect franchisees

Kirsty-Anne Holmes said the death of her father, Adrian Howe, ‘might not have happened’ if protection for franchisees had been in place. Photograph: Mark Waugh/The Guardian

The family of a former mobile phone store manager who was found drowned days before his new Vodafone franchise was to open its doors is pressing the government to introduce a new franchising law in his name.

The call comes a week after Vodafone settled a long-running legal claim filed by 62 of its former franchisees who alleged that the company “unjustly enriched” itself at their expense by up to £85m.