Ashley demands ‘full hour’ with Westminster committee
Mike Ashley is to attend a select committee in Westminster next month, having requested to meet MPs in person.
The retailer’s Sports Direct group bought House of Fraser out of administration for £90m in August.
Ashley said: “Since we acquired House of Fraser, we have been working around the clock to save as many stores and jobs as possible.
Mike Ashley is to attend a select committee in Westminster next month, having requested to meet MPs in person.
The retailer’s Sports Direct group bought House of Fraser out of administration for £90m in August.
Ashley said: “Since we acquired House of Fraser, we have been working around the clock to save as many stores and jobs as possible.
“I believe politicians and landlords should be doing more to save our struggling high streets, so I intend to make the most of this opportunity to make a real difference.”
According to a Sports Direct spokesperson, MPs had initially asked for “somebody from House of Fraser to speak for about 15 minutes as part of a panel of four, and said they didn’t mind who it was.”
However, Ashley thought “that wouldn’t achieve anything” and therefore “he demanded to go along in person for a full hour”.
A spokesperson for the housing communities and local government committee said: “We are happy he is coming in.”
Sports Direct has announced it has so far saved in excess of 20 House of Fraser stores.
However, according to Radius Data Exchange, the number of stores confirmed to close is up to 11, stretching to 1.2m sq ft. This includes all of the four intu-owned department stores after the shopping centre owner refused to grant rent reductions.
The government division is currently conducting an inquiry into high streets and town centres in 2030.
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