MPs have rejected Mike Ashley's request to visit the head office of his retail chain Sports Direct as a condition for being quizzed in Parliament.

Mr Ashley has been summoned to the Palace of Westminster on June 7 regarding a forthcoming evidence session from the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Committee on working practices at Sports Direct, but he said he would only attend the meeting if politicians visit his retail firm's offices in Shirebrook, Derbyshire the day before.

In its letter, the BIS Committee confirms it will not undertake a visit to Shirebrook in advance of the evidence session on 7 June.

Iain Wright MP, chair of the (BIS) Committee said: “Business leaders regularly give evidence to Select Committees in Westminster without imposing conditions.

"This is part and parcel of living and operating a business in a parliamentary democracy.

"It is highly unusual for select committees to have to resort to issuing a summons.

"The Business Committee has a number of questions it wishes to ask Mr Ashley on the public record about the treatment of workers at Sports Direct and about the scope, progress, and timetable of the review of working practices which Mr Ashley announced in December.

"In March, Mr Ashley received a summons to give evidence on 7 June.

"He has stated in his letter to me that he is available on that date and the committee expects Mr Ashley to attend without conditions being imposed.”

The Committee is set to hear from representatives of the Unite union - Luke Primarolo, Regional Officer, and Steve Turner, Assistant General Secretary - as part of its inquiry into working practices at Sports Direct.

MPs have been trying to get the Newcastle United owner to appear at Parliament for months and the Committee issued a summons for Mr Ashley to attend a hearing in June after he was previously absent when summoned in March.