Here are two sharply conflicting stories giving a snapshot of what is happening on the ground in Britain today. On Monday, around 680 workers were called to the Bradford HQ of their employer, Safestyle, to be told that the country’s biggest window and door manufacturer was bust and their jobs were no more.
In distressing scenes reminiscent of the 1970s, Safestyle staff were not even allowed into the building. They were told they had lost their jobs by the administrator over a tannoy in the HQ’s car park. In the pouring rain. They were told that most of them would receive their final pay checks but some – who were paid weekly and were still owed for last week – would have to chase any money they were due through the Redundancy Payment Service.
