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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Sarah Butler

Wilko’s former chair tells MPs she was devastated by collapse of retailer

Wilko Lisa Wilkinson Doug Putman Liam Byrne Covid-19 EY GMB HMV
Former Wilko chair Lisa Wilkinson appearing before the business and trade select committee in the House of Commons
Former Wilko chair Lisa Wilkinson said, after prompting from MPs, she was ‘sorry’ the company was not supporting its staff any more. Photograph: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA

The former boss of Wilko has tearfully told MPs she was devastated by the collapse of the budget retailer as she claimed the family’s multimillion-pound fortune was not enough to rescue it.

Lisa Wilkinson, the company’s former chair who is granddaughter of the founder and was an important shareholder, was hauled in front of the business and trade committee after Wilko collapsed in August with the loss of more than 12,000 jobs, £625m in debt and a £50m pension black hole.

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