In a letter sent today to , , Labour’s Shadow Minister
for Consumer Affairs, has:
- Called on the Tories to join Labour’s call for Thomas Cook’s
failing bosses to reject their bonuses.
- Criticised the government for its reckless refusal to save
staff and customers from misery by taking an equity stake in
Thomas Cook.
- And demanded the government finally begins its long delayed
airline insolvency review.
In the letter, writes:
“The government should have averted this crisis by taking an
equity stake, and saving the company from collapse. Why did you
refuse to act to prevent job losses on such a huge scale and why
did you not protect British holidaymakers abroad?
“The human cost of your reckless inaction cannot be exaggerated.
The stress and misery of staff whose jobs and incomes are
threatened, whose whole families will be worrying about how they
will pay their bills; the way people’s holidays have been ruined
by anxiety and chaos – these are the government’s responsibility.
“The government announced an airline insolvency review in 2017,
but failed to do anything about it - no doubt because government
has been paralysed by your party’s infighting. That review could
have helped avert the Thomas Cook crisis. Will a minister
announce swiftly when it will begin?
“Adding to the government’s inaction are the many failures of
management. Will you now immediately join me in demanding that
Thomas Cook’s failing bosses reject their bonuses?”
Ends
Notes to editors
The full text of the letter is below:
Minister,
I am writing in relation to the news that Thomas Cook has gone
into administration. The company has been a bedrock for British
holidaymakers and a feature on high streets across this country
for generations.
This morning thousands of Thomas Cook employees were confronted
with the extremely worrying news that they no longer had a job.
Similarly, thousands of employees of hotels and suppliers around
the world are now left with deep uncertainty about their
futures.
It is vital the government fully cooperates with trade unions to
ensure every effort is made to support workers at this difficult
time. Will you immediately publish detailed plans for ensuring
every available support is offered to Thomas Cook
employees?
The best option to secure the company’s future would have been
for the government to take an equity stake in order to facilitate
a rescue deal. The government would rather that £600 million were
forked out for compensation and repatriation – rather than, as
previously agreed, rescuing Thomas Cook with £200 million. That
tells you everything you need to know about how much the Tories
care about workers.
Consumers need to be better aware of their rights. What new steps
have you taken to ensure that this is the case? What advice are
they being given if they are concerned about what will happen in
the next few days? Furthermore, what discussions have you had
with the company regarding compensation for those whose travel
has been disrupted as a result of the events in recent days?
Given the previous government ownership of Thomas Cook,
intervention of this type would have been an appropriate and
proportionate step to protect this much-loved brand, its
hard-working staff and its many customers. The government should
have averted this crisis by taking an equity stake, and saving
the company from collapse.
The government must now answer to the public, Thomas Cook
employees and customers: why did you refuse to act to prevent
9,000 job losses and why did you not protect British
holidaymakers abroad?
The human cost of your reckless inaction cannot be exaggerated.
The stress and misery of staff whose jobs and incomes are
threatened, whose whole families will be worrying about how they
will pay their bills; the way people’s holidays have been ruined
by anxiety and chaos – these are the government’s responsibility.
The government announced an airline insolvency review in 2017,
but failed to do anything about it - no doubt because government
has been paralysed by your party’s infighting. That review could
have helped avert the Thomas Cook crisis. Will a minister
announce swiftly when it will begin?
Adding to the government’s inaction are the many failures of
management. Will you now immediately join me in demanding that
Thomas Cook’s failing bosses reject their bonuses?
In normal times, we would be putting these questions to you in
the House of Commons but the undemocratic prorogation of
Parliament has prevented parliamentarians from representing the
people by raising this vital issue.
I hope you will respond swiftly to the points raised.
, Shadow Business
Minister
