Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley to be formally ordered before MPs

Billionaire Mike Ashley will be summoned to face ministers on June 7 – and will be warned that failure to do so could see him face parliamentary censure.

The Business, Innovation and Skills Committee wants to question Ashley over working conditions at the retailer and insisted he could be held in contempt of Parliament if he fails to attend the meeting at the House of Commons.

It comes a week after Ashley accused MPs of being “deliberately antagonistic” by refusing to visit Sports Direct.

MPs had previously called on Ashley to agree a date to appear before them to discuss the way the retailer’s warehouse staff are treated and its use of controversial zero-hours contracts, or face action.

But Ashley instead invited ministers to the retailer’s Shirebrook warehouse “to gain a detailed and balanced understanding” of the topics the committee wanted to discuss.

Committee chair Iain Wright turned down the chance to visit the site, a move that Ashley described as “an attempt to create a media circus”.

Following Ashley’s sternly worded riposte, the committee met earlier today to thrash out its next move and will now order the tycoon to appear before them at Westminster.

A spokesman said: “At its meeting this morning, the Business Committee decided to issue a summon to Mike Ashley to give evidence to it on Tuesday 7 June 2016 at the Palace of Westminster.

“As indicated in the chair’s previous letter, should Mr Ashley not agree to appear on 7 June, the committee reserves the right to take the matter further, including seeking the support of the House of Commons in respect of any complaint of contempt.”