Sir Ken Morrison told MPs in Westminster last night that his bid in the battle for Safeway was best.

The supermarket tycoon, pictured, who began the bidding battle for troubled grocery chain Safeway on January 9 with a £2.9 billion offer, said his bid was best for consumers, best for competition and best for Yorkshire.

He also told MPs that if any of the rival firms currently vying for Safeway managed to take it over it would create "an anti-competitive and unheal-thy market place".

He also spoke about moving Safeway's London headquarters to Bradford and said the merged business would create 4,000 jobs through ten stores opening this year. He joked: "You might describe us as Northerners but just watch out - we can do a bit."

If the headquarters moved to the city some jobs could be lost in London, but Sir Ken said the move would be "good news" for West Yorkshire.

He added: "There is a loss in the South, but there is a tremendous gain in an area that really needs us.

"And we're very proud of our Bradford roots and we make no apologies because Bradford is a fine city."

Rumours spread yesterday that Sir Ken and Sainsbury boss Sir Peter Davies could join forces to take over Safeway.

The firm has denied this and said its bid is the only one on the table. Other firms currently showing an interest in Safeway include Tesco, US retail giant Wal-Mart, Marks & Spencer, Bhs boss Philip Green and US buy-out giant Kohlberg Kravis Roberts

A spokeswoman for Morri-sons said: "It was a private meeting and not something we wish to discuss."

Terry Rooney, Labour MP for Bradford North, said: "There's a 35-year history of Morrisons surprising the City of London. They are making a mistake writing off Morrisons."