Question

Asked by Josh Newbury to Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade on 03 November 2026 — tabled under the Andy Burnham government

On behalf of the staff who work at the Poundland stores in Cannock town centre and the Linkway retail park, I find this news particularly shocking, particularly given that the company recently announced a return to like-for-like sales growth and thanked staff for their “amazing efforts”. Does the Minister agree that, in the light of efforts to rescue Poundland being rebuffed, Gordon Brothers needs to get around the table with USDAW, managers and creditors to save this iconic staple of our high streets?

Answer

Answered by Kate Dearden (Labour (Co-op))

I agree with my hon. Friend about the importance of jobs and the uncertainty that lots of the employees are working through with the union. I pay tribute to them for all their work. We are committed to engaging with all stakeholders as much as we can, and we are making our priorities clear. We want the company to do everything it can to protect employees and suppliers. We are seeking clarity on its plans and a clear understanding of the situation.

60% vibes

Verdict: RED (20/100)

The minister's reply gestures at the question's core point: it agrees that jobs and the union's involvement matter and says the government is committed to engaging with stakeholders. It does not clearly state that Gordon Brothers should engage with USDAW, managers and creditors, and it offers no concrete action or commitment. Because the answer is largely general and hedged, the person who asked would likely need to submit a follow-up for specifics.

Verdict: AMBER (30/100)

The reply acknowledges that the jobs at stake matter and that the union has raised concerns. It says the Government is committed to engaging with all stakeholders and is seeking clarity on Gordon Brothers' plans. However, it never clearly states whether Gordon Brothers should engage directly with USDAW, Poundland managers and creditors, which was the specific point asked. The answer is therefore mostly hedged, and the person who asked would likely need to submit a follow-up to get a committed response.

How we got there

Question item	Coverage	Specificity	Rationale
Does the Minister agree that Gordon Brothers should engage directly with USDAW, Poundland managers and creditors about rescuing the business?	Partially Addressed	Hedged	The reply agrees only with the general importance of jobs and the union's position, and says the Government is 'committed to engaging with all stakeholders' and 'seeking clarity on its plans', but it never states whether Gordon Brothers should engage directly with USDAW, Poundland managers and creditors. The answer is therefore gestural rather than a clear yes or no on the specific engagement asked about.
Does the Minister agree that Gordon Brothers should engage with USDAW, managers and creditors in an effort to save Poundland?	Partially Addressed	Hedged	The minister says they agree on the importance of jobs and the union's involvement, and that the government is committed to engaging with all stakeholders, which gestures at the question's engagement point. However, the reply never explicitly says that Gordon Brothers should engage with USDAW, managers and creditors, and it mentions only the union and general 'stakeholders' with platitudes and no concrete action.