SUPERMARKET chains Sainsbury’s and Asda were accused of “desperate and disrespectful behaviour” today after offering to sell off 150 stores to persuade the competition authority to allow them to merge.

The sell-off plan was submitted to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) after the department ruled that the proposed £12 billion merger could not go ahead unless the chains divested themselves of some of their stores.

The companies responded with the offer to get rid of 150 stores, leaving thousands of employees facing an uncertain future.