It’s not my fault the high street is dying, Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley tells MPs

Mr Ashley, whose Sports Direct empire swallowed up failed department store chain House of Fraser earlier this year, also warned that he was “not Father Christmas”.

But he did say that he was attempting the “godlike” feat of saving 80% of HoF stores while also offering policymakers a prescription to save the wider retail sector.

Mr Ashley’s takeover of the 169-year-old chain saved it from administration but has still left the future of thousands of staff in doubt as the billionaire tycoon seeks to slash store rents, in many cases by around half, to keep them afloat.

Suppliers, pensioners, and customers have also been left out of pocket after the pre-pack administration process meant it was left free of liabilities for its new owners.

But Mr Ashley bristled at attempts to present him as a villain as he also batted off controversy about zero-hours contracts – which he said many workers prefer.

“I’m not sitting in my office stroking a white cat,” he told MPs on the housing, communities and local government select committee.

The tycoon argued that the retail sector was already on its knees, offering a bleak picture of the future if radical action was not taken – and laying the blame for the gloom squarely on the rise of online retail.

Pressed on whether he would try to keep all 59 House of Fraser stores open, he angrily responded that he had “never, never, never” pledged to do that and indicated that while he was trying to keep open as many as he could, it would be impossible to retain all of them.

“What person could keep 59 stores open, besides God?” he said. “Even keeping 80% of stores open would be a god-like performance.”

Mr Ashley insisted that House of Fraser would have to change to survive, ditching “prehistoric” business practices and potentially collaborating with rival Debenhams – a business in which he already has a significant stake.

He refused to offer assurances on the future of the chain to MPs who he said were “trying to showboat” and intimated that it would have to employ fewer people.

“I’m not Father Christmas, I’m actually a very fair guy,” says Mr Ashley.

He went on to offer his bleak thoughts on the state of the high street, suggesting that it was dying and in some cases already dead, comparing it to a person lying at the bottom of a swimming pool.

“It’s not my fault the high street is dying… It’s very very simple, the internet is killing the high street.

“The question is, what to do about it. The mainstream high streets are already dead.”

Mr Ashley – who was appearing before the committee to talk about the struggling retail sector – suggested an online sales tax for retailers selling more than 20% online.

That would motivate companies to keep bricks-and-mortar stores open and help them compete with web-only giants such as Amazon, he argued.

The colourful appearance, lasting more than an hour, was summed up by committee chairman Clive Betts.

He told Mr Ashley: “You’ve told us that you’re not a pantomime villain, you’re not Father Christmas.

“I think you’ve still left us to decide whether you’re the wicked uncle or the fairy godmother and time will no doubt tell.”