Retail magnate Mike Ashley prepares to give evidence about high street struggles to MPs

Retail tycoon Mike Ashley is to give evidence about the woes facing the high street in front of a parliamentary committee next week after demanding an audience with MPs.

Sports Direct confirmed today that the billionaire businessman is to face Westminster’s Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee for an hour-long session next Monday.

The announcement comes after Ashley lashed out at politicians last week for failing to do enough to help Britain’s beleaguered high street retailers and called for an hour-long meeting with MPs before the start of the new year.

Mike 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 spokesman 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."

The news comes a day after Ashley escalated his war of words with UK landlords, hitting out at Intu Properties and pledging to close down all his stores that are located on the shopping centre owner’s sites.

The Sports Direct boss is expected to shut 17 stores across a mix of his retail portfolio – including House of Fraser, Flannels and Evans Cycles – following a dispute with Intu over the proposals for a new agreement on four House of Fraser outlets.

Ashley, who bought House of Fraser in August, has sparred with landlords during the past several months over plans to renegotiate rents for his newly-acquired list of embattled department stores, calling them “greedy” and blaming them for previous closures.

“Intu has demonstrated it is unwilling to help retailers save stores and jobs…It is unrealistic for Intu top continue to enjoy a long-term relationship with our retail business” Ashley told the Sunday Times.

The move will cost more than £25m a year in lost rent, according to Ashley, although an Intu spokesperson said that the figure is closer to £5m.