![\"Owner](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_proxy-2jfif.jpg\")
Owner of Morton’s Rolls John McIlvogue (Image: Tony Nicoletti\/Daily Record)<\/p>\n\u201cI stepped in to rescue the iconic Morton\u2019s Rolls bakery from liquidation and to rehire as many of the former bakery workers as I could”Owner of Morton’s Rolls John McIlvogue (Image: Tony Nicoletti\/Daily Record)<\/p>\n
A bakery firm famous for its morning rolls<\/a> is set to rise again after winning a bitter court battle with the UK Government.<\/p>\n Morton\u2019s Rolls<\/a>, in Drumchapel, Glasgow, was in danger of going bust after civil servants claimed a firm that bought it in 2023 was liable for more than \u00a32million in redundancy payments. But after a long tribunal battle, new owner John McIlvogue and backers won the case against the Insolvency Service.<\/p>\n McIlvogue said awarding the redundancy costs against his Phoenix Volt Ltd firm <\/a>would have plunged the business into insolvency again. The ex-Livingston FC owner added: \u201cIt\u2019s a weight off my mind and we can now focus on expansion plans without this hanging over us.<\/p>\n “It was ludicrous for the UK Government to take such a stance when the redundancy payments all related to the company <\/a>that \u00adpreviously owned the business. No new owner could have bought Morton\u2019s in 2023 if they would have been saddled with that kind of liability.\u201d<\/p>\n The row centred on whether or not McIlvogue\u2019s firm <\/a>had enacted a \u201cTUPE\u201d arrangement, formally signing over staff from the former company to the new one \u2013 which he denied had taken place.<\/p>\n Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!<\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n All you have to do is click here<\/a>, select ‘Join Community’ and you’re in!<\/p>\n We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like.<\/p>\n To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n McIlvogue won at the original tribunal but the Secretary of State for Scotland appealed. He said he was relieved ex-staff could finally be paid from the \u00adGovernment\u2019s Redundancy Payment Service. He said: \u201cAfter two years in limbo, finally, the former employees of Morton\u2019s Rolls<\/a> will receive their long overdue redundancy payments.<\/p>\n \u201cI stepped in to rescue the iconic Morton\u2019s Rolls <\/a>bakery from liquidation and to rehire as many of the former bakery workers as I could to start rebuilding the business.<\/p>\n \u201cDespite an employment tribunal ruling that the responsibility for legacy redundancy payments from when Morton\u2019s <\/a>fell into administration did not rest with Phoenix Volt Ltd, the UK Government lawyers decided to challenge that decision and needlessly drew out the process for two years \u2013 delaying the payments to former employees, many of whom have been left in dire straits.<\/p>\n “I am pleased the decision to throw out the appeal puts this long-running saga to bed, allowing Morton\u2019s Rolls <\/a>to move forward with confidence and to invest in the Drumchapel bakery, growing the size of the workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n