Just up on the BBC site. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-35767345 Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley has been threatened with being in contempt of Parliament after failing to appear in front of a committee of MPs. Mr Ashley had been asked to give evidence about the treatment of his workers. It follows a BBC investigation into the Derbyshire company's warehouse working practises. Mr Ashley has until 21 March to respond after a letter from Hartlepool MP Iain Wright. The letter reveals Mr Ashley had invited the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) select committee - which Mr Wright chairs - to a meeting at the company's base in Shirebrook. "The treatment of low-paid workers and enforcement of the national minimum wage are issues that the committee will be keeping under review over the coming months," Mr Wright's letter states. "In line with select committees' commitment to transparency, it is normal practice for the BIS Committee to meet in public at Westminster and we agreed to adhere to this practice on this occasion. "A number of alternative dates have been offered to you by the Committee Clerk, but... you have not accepted any of them, nor agreed in principle to attend. "Should you fail in your reply to agree to attend on one of the dates offered to you...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." Sports Direct has not responded to the BBC's request for a comment. The company has previously pledged to review worker rights, with oversight by Mr Ashley, who also owns Newcastle United Football Club.
Yes the usual Beeb line Ashley is the devil and enforces slave labour, he eats babies as well, MP's earning their corn for sitting on their arses and stuffing their pockets.
He won't be smiling when he's charged with contempt of Parliament. 2016 not going well for him, poor man (NOT)
Ignoring that it is Ashley we are talking about, why should he have to go and answer questions to a Parliamentary Committee in any event. If they want to ask questions they should go and see him. If they want to investigate him then prosecute him for some breach of the law and not just ask him questions wasting everyone's time.
Serious reply: Parliament is the ultimate power in the land (even more so than Courts of Law with their contempt of court laws). If summoned ..you WILL show up, no matter what . No one can avoid it (except the queen ..but that is another issue, and why PM's go to see her) . Its how they can get Prime Ministers/Lords etc to rock up and give testimony, when they often don't want too. Wasting a persons time doesn't even enter into the arguement. It's an overt display of where power and authority lie. (This is on the back of the guardian investigation...so they can investigate if they are unsatisfied with his answers. Often Parliamentary committees will summon someone and although what they did is perfectly 'legal' at the time ..it will lead to a change in policy, an Act or law based on their findings. Bottom line Parliament is THE biggest Dog in ANY fight and you had better know it and respect that)
My comment is based on my admittedly limited contact with MP's (but not that limited as have met and had some correspondence with about 10 different MP's on varying matters) and have yet to meet or talk with one who wasn't self serving and who actually had a grasp of the topic or issue in question or who wasn't simply seeking popularity. I know they are the ultimate power but we as the People do a very bad job at appointing people worthy of that position. With that and my experiences with them I have very little time or respect for MP's in general and do feel this is all about posturing rather than any real attempt at improving our lot. They don't need to speak to Ashley to suss that employment laws need changing for the better and zero hour contracts made illegal or impose conditions which limit their abuse.
There are thousands of bar staff, waiters etc on zero hr contracts, how come we never hear about them. But all grief Mike Ashley. Where I work at a big car company they have all new staff on temporary contracts, could be 3 months,6 months and it can be like this for 3/4 years. Why do they do this, because the law allows them to . So it's up to parliament if they not happy to change the laws.
Wasn't sure if you were in ..Sebb Blatter/FIFA..mode ie ..Qatar won fair and square...because we say so (that will be a million quid in swiss francs, thank ya very much ). It can be tricky to tell at times Do totally agree. Representative Democracy in this country is a farce, hijacked, sold and bought by the venal and self serving (and, usually, wilfully ignorant about way too many things they involve themselves in) As you say ..this is posturing and theatre. Even if they know the laws need changing..there aren't any future board memberships to slide into/cash on hand ..if they did change them . It's a race to the bottom and the bottom of the gene pool is where MP's seem to come from (barring a very few exceptions) Not sure, 'that People do a very bad job of appointing people worthy of that position' though get your point. I'd argue the system is designed to be that way, the whole system and culture surrounding our selection of people to represent us, and how they go about it while there...is broken beyond repair in my eyes. From a lying unaccountable media through to numerous private off the record conversations with CEO's/Future directorships and for-sale peerages etc. The whole thing is rotten to the core, and having the choice tween rotten A and rotten B... we will always make a rotten choice Have no idea what the solution is, mind. For me, need to get the money out of politics and total transparency while they there ..but how the hell do you do that? (edit...at least this has stopped me from pressing refresh every 10 seconds on the ..Rafa agrees 3 yrs thread.. my clicking finger was getting tired )
