Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley has called on MPs to do more to help the beleaguered British high street, and says he has been “working around the clock” to save stores and jobs after buying House of Fraser earlier this year.
In a statement to the London Stock Exchange, Sports Direct Group said Mike Ashley had “demanded” to meet MPs in person to discuss the issue.
Next week, he will provide evidence at a housing, communities and local government committee hearing next week for its inquiry into the future of the UK’s high streets and town centres.
Mr Ashley said: "Since we acquired House of Fraser, we've 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."
A spokesperson for Sports Direct added: “The MPs originally wanted 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.
"Mike thought that wouldn't achieve anything, so instead he demanded to go along in person for a full hour.”
A number of the UK’s biggest retail brands have either collapsed or come very close to doing so in the last year.
Sports Direct bought House of Fraser out of administration after the department store ran out of cash, and recently snapped up Evans Cycles as part of a pre-pack administration, while even John Lewis has struggled to turn a profit in the face of lower spending and rising costs.
