The government has ordered Sports Direct to close after management attempted to keep the stores open following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s lockdown announcement.
Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office Minister, said Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley must ‘back off’ and allow staff to stay at home in a bid to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
“The key thing we need to do is make sure people wherever possible stay at home.
“Yes it’s important people exercise but that should be done once a day and it’s a basic thing.
“People can walk, run or cycle, they should, but there is no reason for a store like Sports Direct to remain open,” he said.
The new government rules state that all non-essential shops should close and only key workers should travel to work.
Sports Direct initially said it would remain open as it was ‘uniquely well placed to help keep the UK as fit and healthy as possible.’
However after widespread criticism, it now says it will not open ‘until we are given the go-ahead by the government.’
