Redundancy without notice - what can we do?

I'm posting this on behalf of my partner, although it also concerns around 25-30 other people made redundant at the same time. He worked for a company (started there around May 2008) that was taken over by another company (let's call them M G ltd) in December 2008. His contract say he is employed by M G ltd.

M G ltd is in Nottingham; my partner works in Manchester.

Last Thursday, the CEO and HR director of M G ltd appeared at the Manchester office and said they'd put their office (just the Manchester one) into liquidation so they were all redundant with immediate effect. They were all given a letter telling them to put in claims with the liquidator if they want any money.

Thanks to the internet, I've found out that after the takeover, the Manchester office was registered as a new company - M (Manchester) ltd which I believe is a subsidiary of M G ltd; I've not been able to work out who exactly the directors of M (Manchester) ltd are.

Where we currently stand:

- immediate redundancy of 25ish people due to liquidation
- no consultation with staff prior to redundancy
- no money!
- M G ltd were given a large grant by the NWDA to enable them to buy this company in 2008, and to safeguard their jobs and create more by 2010
- the Manchester office had recently enabled M G ltd to complete a large project worth lots of money - how can M G ltd be fine but have to liquidate M (Manchester) ltd if they work on the same project - surely there's been some interchange of finances
- so far, we have a form to fill in to claim from the National Insurance fund and a statement of accounts to fill in for the liquidator (creditors' meeting is on 19th April).

What do/can we do - it's getting a bit confusing?!

It is illegal.Try and talk to them about it.If you get no decent response then take them to court.