Companies owned by wealthy Tory donors are using the Government’s furlough scheme to cover 80% of staff wages.
JCB has furloughed the “vast majority” of its 6,500 staff.
It is owned by Lord Bamford, 74, whose family wealth is £4billion. He has pledge £10million to the Tories, who gave him a peerage in 2013.
In September, JCB announced a record turnover of £4.1billion.
Homeware firm Dunelm, whose deputy chairman Will Adderley gave £500,000 to the Tories last year through his private investment firm, have used the scheme for most of its 10,000 staff.
In December, Dunelm announced pre-tax profits of £84.9million as sales soared.
Discount chain B&M briefly closed 49 of its 660 stores and furloughed some staff.
(Image: SWNS.com)
It also stands to benefit from the Government’s three-month business rates holiday.
Tory donor Simon Arora, and his brothers Bobby and Robin have made about £1billion from B&M, including nearly £230million they trousered from selling some of their shares in 2017.
Homeware store The Range, founded by Chris Dawson, estimated to be worth £2billion, is also using the business rates holiday.
This week ex-Spice Girl Victoria Beckham reversed her decision to furlough 30 staff at her fashion label amid criticism.
Thought to be worth £335million, she has £1.5million of handbags.
JCB said it had donated 10,000 meals to vulnerable families in Staffs and the job retention scheme is “vital to companies like us” seeking to find a way through Covid-19.
Dunelm declined to comment. B&M said only 100 of its staff were currently furloughed and it had given more than £1million to food banks in the crisis. The Range was contacted for comment.
