Mike Ashley slams Michael Gove over ‘risible management’ of Covid-19
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has laid into Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove after being forced to close its English stores.
In a statement to the London Stock Exchange on Friday afternoon, Frasers accused Gove of the “risible management” of Covid-19 after finally being told that it wouldn’t be allowed to keep its shops open during the month-long lockdown in England.
The statement said: “The Government finally updated mixed retail rules for England yesterday, Thursday 6 November 2020. We note inconsistencies remain and, given Michael Gove MP chose to perform a PR stunt on TV to deflect the public’s opprobrium onto Frasers Group at the start of the previous lockdown, we currently will not be opening any of our fascias in England, including those with mixed retail use that include ‘essential retail.’
“In our opinion, based on the fact that, amongst other matters, the Government has been unwilling, over a period of 6 months, to even clarify what it believes a “bicycle shop” is, the likes of Mr Gove are failing to provide the leadership and guidance that businesses require. Even the chaotic demises of BHS and Debenhams seem to us to be a picnic when compared to the systematic and risible mismanagement of Covid-19 by Mr Gove and his cohorts, which is causing devastation in particular to the retail sector.”
Frasers Group confirmed its English stores would open again after the current lockdown measures come to end. They are due to expire on December 2.
The Shirebrook firm’s stores in Northern Ireland and Scotland remain open. In Wales, stores are currently closed but are expected to open on Monday November 9.
