HARLOW MP, Robert Halfon has expressed his anger at the closure of BHS across the UK including Harlow.

Mr Halfon said: “It is a hugely sad and anxious time for Harlow BHS Workers. The Harlow store employs 65 people, is very profitable and has many workers who have worked there for a significant number of years.

I met with the manager and some staff recently of our Town’s Store and ‎discussed with him just how dedicated the staff are, their commitment to BHS, and their determination to carry on despite what has occurred.

These hard working Harlow workers have been let down by crony capitalism, by millionaires who will not suffer in any way. They now have to worry about providing for themselves and their families. It is an absolute injustice that Harlow workers face a loss of their pensions and redundancies.

I have also met with Sajid Javid the Business Secretary: he has told me that there is an insolvency inquiry‎ to see whether the company was sold to a fit and proper person equipped to run BHS. Parliamentary Committees are also carrying out an investigation as to what has occurred and why. The Pensions Regulator is also examining why the pension deficit balooned to over £500 million and what liabilities the previous owners have.

As MP time and time again, whether it is the closure of Comet, Phones 4U and the shutting of Tesco Logistics, I have seen Harlow workers thrown on the scrapheap, whilst multi-millionaire so called investors or owners walk off into the sunset.

We need radical reform to ensure that when companies are in difficulties and taken over, there are strict checks to ensure that those who buy the companies are fit and proper and can cover pension liabilities.

I will be pushing this in Parliament and in Government and also urging the Business Department to do everything possible for Harlow Workers to help them find new jobs‎, get their redundancy money soon and guarantee their pensions.