Remarkable U-turn as Mike Ashley agrees he will go before MPS and answer questions about Sports Direct: “It would no doubt lead to further unwarranted accusations that I am being secretive…”

“Does Mr Ashley, owning and operating a business in a parliamentary democracy, see himself as being beyond such public scrutiny? What has he got to be frightened of?”

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has now been issued with a formal summons by parliament to appear before MPs to answer questions about his running of Sports Direct.

Mike Ashley has been warned he could face contempt charge by Parliament and so in his response he has treat the MPs with…contempt.

Mike Ashley told to appear before MPs by 1 June 2016 or else face complaint of contempt.

That 20%+ share price fall has seen the value of Mike Ashley’s shareholding drop by over half a billion pounds, from £2.42bn to £1.91bn.

MPs have said that Mike Ashley can’t hide from them forever, saying that he will be held to account and can’t be busy every day for the next five years.

MPs are refusing to allow Mike Ashley to get away with the contempt he is holding parliament in.

After now showing total contempt for parliament, one MP asks: ‘Is Mike Ashley a fit and proper person to run a football club’.

Political football hits the back of the net in Newcastle – pre-match public meeting on Saturday organised by NUST with MPs and prominent football figures.