Local Labour activists have organised a peaceful protest this Saturday in support of Debenhams staff who face the prospect of a difficult Christmas this year following the probable closure of the Harrow Store.
As it stands, all Debenhams stores will close, with 12,000 staff expected to lose unfortunately their jobs, unless the retailer’s administrators can organise a last minute deal which is looking highly unlikely.
Debenhams Christmas clearance is now on in many stores across the country following the chain failing to save a possible deal on December 1 with JD Sports.
In a statement made to the London Stock Exchange, the company said: “JD Sports Fashion, the leading retailer of sports, fashion and outdoor brands, confirms that discussions with the administrators of Debenhams regarding a potential acquisition of the UK business have now been terminated.”
The protest in Harrow will observe social distancing rules and will start at 11am tomorrow morning (Sat 4 December).
Cllr Pamela Fitzpatrick who is attending the demonstration said: “Shop workers have been the unsung heroes throughout this terrible year. They work long hours for low pay and many now face the prospect of unemployment just before Christmas and at a time the Government is about to make cuts to universal credit.
“We are in a pandemic and Harrow has been badly hit with many lives lost. Yet the Instead of the government is looting the Treasury and awarding its donors lucrative contracts worth billions with virtually no accountability or oversight.
“The Government has ensured that many of their friends have profited from the pandemic. It is time it started showing some concern and providing something for ordinary workers such as the Debenhams staff who are losing their jobs.”
