Does Mike Ashley think he is above the law?
Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley has branded MPs as ‘deliberately antagonistic’ towards him. Pot, kettle, black? [Image: Martin Rickett/PA].
(Ashley wanted a private meeting instead, which is inappropriate.)
That does not mean that This Blog has any sympathy for Mr Ashley. His latest move seems to indicate he thinks he can do whatever he likes.
Iain Wright should have him arrested and brought to Westminster in chains.
If he won’t come willingly, let him be dragged in. Perhaps then he’ll learn some humility – or at least some respect.
Sports Direct’s founder, Mike Ashley, has accused MPs of being “deliberately antagonistic”, claiming they were abusing parliamentary procedure by trying to force him to give evidence to a committee.
In a letter to Iain Wright, the chairman of the business, innovation and skills committee, Ashley said he was disgusted by the MPs’ approach. On Wednesday, the committee warned Ashley publicly that he risked being in contempt of parliament if he failed to appear.
Ashley wrote: “I was disgusted to learn that you have adopted a stance that is deliberately antagonistic.” He accused Wright of trying to create a media circus by summoning him.
“I believe you are abusing parliamentary procedure in an attempt to create a media circus at Westminster, which is not in the best interests of any of the people who work at Sports Direct.”
Source: Mike Ashley berates MPs over summons to give evidence | Business | The Guardian
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A select committee has no power to force anyone to appear before it.
Maybe not, but anyone committing contempt of Parliament may be imprisoned.
Surely that’ll be most (if not all) of the cabinet then?
Have any of them ever given a straight answer to a question?
In addition to my last comment, this is amusing:
http://newsthump.com/2016/03/10/everyone-amazed-that-contempt-of-parliament-is-a-crime/
Powers of committees in gathering evidence
When gathering evidence, almost all select committees have a power to send for “persons, papers and records”. is means that committees can insist upon the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers and other material. is formal power is rarely used.
When hearing oral evidence, committees have the power to require witnesses to answer questions. In practice, evidence-taking before committees is conducted with a degree of informality and such powers are seldom used. A committee also has power to take evidence on oath. If the procedure is used, which it has on extremely rare occasions, witnesses are liable to the laws of perjury.
As you say, such powers are seldom used – meaning they are used.
Mike Ashley is modern capitalism in its worst possible form. A money maker for himself and a wrecker elsewhere. He is destroying Newcastle United Through his own greed and ignorance – he is not an educated man. His lack of sensitivity became a topic when he tiemd Newcastle United to sponsors Wonga, in a city where there is poverty and people, through are very tempted to borrow at exorbitant rates. No wonder he’s mockiongly referred to as Fat Freddie on Tyneside. Bad luck to him.
what about convening a public peoples panel having randomly chosen people from all walks of life.
Burden of proof is on him to satisfy the panel he has not been corrupt or unfair to employees.
In short, yes, he is an arrogant twat who thinks he’s untouchable, but he shouldn’t be, throw the bloody book at him!