Calls for Sir Philip Green to lose his knighthood after being named in sexual harassment gagging scandal
The Topshop tycoon, 66, was named today as the businessman who took out an injunction to stop reports about claims that he bullied and groped employees
SIR Philip Green is once again facing calls from MPs to be stripped of his knighthood following the sexual harassment gagging order revelation.
The controversial tycoon, 66, was named today under parliamentary privilege as the business mogul who took out an injunction to stop reports about claims that he racially abused and groped employees.
In light of his bombshell outing in the Lords, former Labour minister and long-serving MP Frank Field, 76, renewed calls for the controversial billionaire to lose his knighthood.
He said: “The charge sheet against the knighthood is growing. Parliament and the country have made their views clear on this matter.”
Lib Dem leader Vince Cable, 75, also called for Green to lose the honour which he was given by Tony Blair’s Labour government in 2006.
Sir Vince told The Sun: “I find it very difficult to see how he could credibly hold on to an honour in these circumstances.
“I think Parliament's proving its worth. The use of Parliament in this way is healthy and it shows democracy at work.”
This is not the first time MPs have called for the Topshop boss to be stripped of his prestigious title - after Green left high street chain BHS with a huge £571million hole in its pension fund.
Following his outing today in the House of Lords by ex-minister Peter Hain, Labour MP Clive Lewis tweeted: “Sir Philip Green named as man at centre of UK #MeToo Scandal.
“Given this non-disclosure payments story and his part in the BHS pensions scandal I'd bet good money 'Sir' won't be part of his title for much longer.”
In 2016, the House of Commons approved a motion recommending the Croydon-born businessman have his knighthood “cancelled or annulled.”
The row was sparked when high street store BHS was left with a chasm in its pension pot before it closed in 2016.
Green sold the firm in 2015 for £1 but not before paying his family £400m in dividends from the struggling company.
But the Arcadia Group chairman, who has an estimated fortune of £4bn, kept his knighthood after paying £363m into the pension scheme in 2017.
The latest scandal surrounding Green emerged when three Appeal Court judges ruled in the businessman’s favour on Tuesday.
The judges ruled the signing of the agreements overrode the public interest in exposing the businessman’s “discreditable” behaviour.
The case has been described as “a British #MeToo moment” — a reference to the flood of allegations in America following the revelation of film mogul Harvey Weinstein’s serial sexual harassment.
This morning we told how a well-known socialite believes she was a victim of the gagging-row tycoon, and accused him of groping her.
In an anonymous first-person account, she said: “He loved that I was scared.”
Green has now released a statement denying the allegations while appearing to admit that some former staff members have received settlements following complaints.
He said: "I am not commenting on anything that has happened in court or was said in Parliament today.
"To the extent that it is suggested that I have been guilty of unlawful sexual or racist behaviour, I categorically and wholly deny these allegations.
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"Arcadia and I take accusations and grievances from employees very seriously and in the event that one is raised, it is thoroughly investigated.
"Arcadia employs more than 20,000 people and in common with many large businesses sometimes receives formal complaints from employees.
"In some cases these are settled with the agreement of all parties and their legal advisers.
“These settlements are confidential so I cannot comment further on them."
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