Carillion collapse - as it happened: Government and unions react as major NHS contractor enters liquidation

Company employs some 20,000 people in the UK and holds contracts for HS2, prisons, the NHS and the armed forces

Brandon Lewis refuses to rule out taxpayer bailout of Carillion on Andrew Marr

One of the Government's most important contractors collapsed into administration on Monday as a result of its lenders refusing to provide any more financial support, raising fears about the future of hundreds of major projects at an already challenging time for the British economy.

Following several days of tense negotiations, the board of construction giant Carillion said that it had “no choice but to take steps to enter into compulsory liquidation with immediate effect’’.

Labour said that it would question the group about how the situation was allowed to become so serious and unions also called for an inquiry into the crisis.

Here's a look back at how all the action unfolded.

Key Points

• Carillion: Government contractor enters compulsory liquidation 'with immediate effect'
• Analysis: How can one of the Government’s biggest contractors go bust?
• Comment:  The collapse of Carillion lays bare the reality of what is really happening to public service
• Carillion won £1.3bn of contracts after profit warning that kick-started demise
• Government to hold emergency COBRA meeting to discuss Carillion's collapse
• Head of corporate governance at the Institute of Directors says ‘effective governance was lacking at Carillion’
• TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady calls collapse a ‘textbook example of the failures of privatisation and outsourcing’
• Tim Roache, GMB general secretary, says ‘ministers should be hanging their heads in shame - it’s a complete shambles’

[15 January 2018 15:02 · Josie Cox]

The Financial Reporting Council has issued the following short statement:

“We have been actively monitoring this situation for some time in close consultation with other relevant regulatory bodies. We have powers to investigate the circumstances relating to the audit of Carillion as well as the actions of the relevant accounting professionals. We are obliged to follow due process and will make a further statement on this matter shortly.”

[15 January 2018 16:26 · Josie Cox]

Urgent Questions

Head over to our politics live blog now to follow the Urgent Question on Carillion.

After that, David Lidington, Minister for the Cabinet Office, is expected to make a statement in the House of Commons on the matter.