I can’t say that I have much time for Mike Ashley as he is an unpleasant piece of shit. However…
Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley has hit out at MPs who want him to appear before a government committee, accusing them of being “deliberately antagonistic”.
Iain Wright, MP and chairman of the business, innovation and skills committee, said earlier this week that Mr Ashley was in danger of being in contempt of parliament if he continued to avoid appearing in front of MPs to discuss working conditions at Sports Direct.
I have often wondered about these committees that haul members of the business community before them in order to subject them to a grilling. These things are little more than kangaroo courts where ill-informed, self-righteous buffoons take out their petty spite on those who appear before them (remember the scum who berated Amazon et al for tax avoidance, for example – where the appropriate response should have been “fuck you and the horse you rode into town on”). I have often wondered why people put up with this. After all, we – and that includes the CEOs of businesses – do not answer to MPs, they answer to us. We are bound by the law. If Ashley is in breach of the law, then prosecute. If not, well, fuck off, frankly.
Why should he discuss anything with them? I wouldn’t. I certainly wouldn’t appear before them for the ritual witch-hunting that these vile creatures indulge in when they have a victim before them.
If Ashley is treating them with contempt, it is no more than they deserve, as they are contemptible. So, while I despise Ashley and would never want to work for his dreadful organisation, his sticking up two fingers to these buffoons is a good thing, not a bad one.
The committee wants to question Mr Ashley about the alleged mistreatment of Sports Direct workers, following a Guardian investigation which claimed that employees were effectively being paid below the minimum wage thanks to extra security checks.
That is a matter for the law, if he has broken it. It is not for a bunch of jumped-up MPs indulging in a witch-hunt.
Mr Wright said in his letter that if Mr Ashley refuses to attend the committee, the members would look to take formal action against him. It is thought no one has been charged with contempt of Parliament for more than 50 years.
A government green paper on parliamentary privilege in 2012 said in theory parliament could summon a person to reprimand them or order their imprisonment.
But another report that year concluded committees did not have the power to compel witnesses to attend. The report, written by barristers Richard Gordon QC and Amy Street for the Constitution Society, said parliament’s formal powers had not been used for hundreds of years and were unlikely to exist now.
So, they can fuck off, then. They answer to us, not the other way around. And the star chambers that they operate are beyond despicable. So, in this case, Ashley is the lesser of two evils.
I didn’t even know contempt of parliament was a thing, but count me in.
Bastards
Interesting post! You have given me a new insight into the “Kangaroo Courts” we have here – I HAVE wondered about them before because they seem superfluous- wrong word – excessive/un-called for. Wrong words – but like a fake offering of self righteousness for the benefit of public “show”. Was Dr David Kelly not grilled in this way? I watched on TV and CRINGED with shame at the witch hunting it displayed. Likewise with many others put on “show” like that. Not good, not right!
“Iain Wright, MP and chairman of the business, innovation and skills committee,”
Wright is also the MP for Hartlepool. Has anyone seen his results of business, innovation and skills in a town where the main shopping centre consists of boarded up shops, charity shops, and Asda! Before anyone is hauled before this parliamentary committee perhaps they should look inwards. Ashley is a twat, but he is an honest twat compared to those who wish to submit him to an inquisition.
What a load of self important twats. As you say, if there is a charge to be answered it is a matter of the judiciary. The honourable members should take heed of their remit and serve their constituents and not meddle in areas to which they have no lawful right.
If you want a good read about some one putting the twats in charge of parliamentary committee’s firmly in their place…. then read up about Ben Emmerson …. your search starts here:
http://www.theguardian.com/law/2015/jan/30/contempt-parliament-bluster-threat
You can find on line the full exchanges about this furore – letters and emails and Emmersons letter to Vaz is well worth a read.
I always thought Keith Vaz was chief twat before I’d heard of Ben Emmerson but Emmerson managed an excellent case for the prosecution in the case of Sane people -vs- Twat Vaz.
Last time anyone was fined or punished for contempt of Parliament was so long ago, we were still water ducking witches at the time. Whatever Ashley is, he has no need to worry about this latest threat. There is more chance of Newcastle winning this years premier league than him ending up some hairy arsed hoodlum’s bitch in Strangeways.
It would be amusing to hear Ashley start with : “So tell me how many people you personally employ, c**t…” and wait for a response.