GUS/Littlewoods merger backed by Beast of Bolsover

The millionaire Barclay twins have found an unlikely parliamentary ally in their battle to merge the mail order divisions of Littlewoods and GUS.

Dennis Skinner, the hard left 'Beast of Bolsover', is among 37 MPs who have signed an Early Day Motion urging Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt to approve the deal. She will receive a Competition Commission recommendation on Tuesday.

Usdaw argues only 500 jobs out of 19,000 will be lost as a result of the merger, but failure could mean closure of the former GUS business.

Skinner said: 'I'm a trade unionist through and through. I don't listen to the bosses. Usdaw feels there will be a bigger loss of jobs if the merger doesn't go through.'