I am an employee of The Body shop and like hundreds of my colleagues, I am currently experiencing an unjust situation.

Our business is being purchased only to be asset stripped and put into administration. This practice is not only destroying our livelihoods but also leaving the taxpayers to foot the bill.

This is not an isolated incident but a widespread problem affecting High Streets up and down the country. The Office for National Statistics reported that between 2010-2020, there was a significant increase in business closures due to insolvency or bankruptcy (source: ONS). This trend reflects how existing laws are enabling predatory practices that harm our High Streets and burden the taxpayers.

We need urgent legislative reform to protect us from such exploitative practices. We call for Anita’s Law, so called after our founder, Anita Roddick. To stop corporate creditors being prioritised ahead of employees and scrap the 14 day administration loophole, which allows the instant sacking of so many staff without redundancy. Over 250 people were sacked on the spot, hundred more over the coming weeks…

I call on our local MPs, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and other relevant authorities to take immediate action.

By signing this petition, you're supporting workers like us who contribute significantly to our local economy and community. You're also standing against unfair practices that shift financial burdens onto innocent taxpayers.

Please sign this petition today – let's demand change together!