PM pledge on collapsed Yorkshire law firm

The prime minister has made a fresh pledge to look into the collapse of a law firm which has left scores of families living in fear of bailiffs at their doors.

Former clients of Sheffield-based SSB Law are facing huge legal bills after their compensation claims fell apart despite being assured their cases were taken on a no-win, no-fee basis.

At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Bradford West MP Naz Shah called on Rishi Sunak to intervene.

Mr Sunak said he would examine the situation and "get back to her as soon as possible".

The majority of the claims were linked to allegedly faulty cavity wall insulation and damp-proofing work, dating back up to a decade.

Several MPs including Ms Shah have taken up the case on behalf of constituents, and are asking the government to act.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is continuing to investigate what it says is a "complex" case.

Addressing Mr Sunak in the Commons, Ms Shah said: "The Prime Minister is no doubt aware of the collapse of SSB Law and many constituents, including hundreds in my constituency, have been affected and have bills of hundreds, up to hundreds of thousands.

"One constituent had to sell his wedding gifts, and his father had a heart attack with the stress.

"People are having to literally raid their pension pots and getting bills and bailiffs knocking on the door.

"Will the Prime Minister meet with me and my constituents' representatives (regarding the) collapse of SSB Law and make sure the government responds to something that is an injustice that's happened to people across the country?"

Mr Sunak said: "I'm sorry to hear about the situation impacting the honourable lady's constituents.

"I'll be more than happy to make sure the right minister looks into it and we get back to her as soon as possible."

Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt has also previously said she would write to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for intervention guidance.

Many families affected by the case have received demands for costs - some up to £40,000 - and say they have no means of paying.

The BBC understands up to 1,400 people in total could be affected, with the total costs they are being chased for adding up to hundreds of thousands of pounds.

One Bradford man, Omar Saleem, told the BBC he was being pursued for £12,000 after the company went into administration.

Mr Saleem, 43, said he had "no clue" how he was going to pay the money back.

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