Former BHS owner Sir Philip Green has demanded an "immediate apology" from MP Frank Field for comments he made about his running of the collapsed retailer. Speaking to the BBC, the co-chair of an inquiry into BHS compared Sir Philip unfavourably to late media magnate Robert Maxwell, who took millions from the Mirror Group's pension funds.
"This statement is highly defamatory and completely false," said law firm Schillings, representing Sir Philip. Mr Field said he would not apologise. He told BBC business editor Simon Jack that Sir Philip's conduct was "displacement therapy". "Instead of writing a big cheque he is firing off lawyers' letters. He needs to stop messing around and write a big cheque".
The development came after a damning MPs' report, published on Monday, concluded Sir Philip, the billionaire former owner of BHS, extracted large sums and left the business on "life support". The report, from the Business, Innovation and Skills and Work and Pensions committees and co-chaired by Mr Field, did not suggest that Sir Phillip had done anything illegal but said his failure to resolve BHS's £571m pension deficit was a major factor in the firm's demise.
The pension scheme is now in the Pension Protection Fund, meaning that its 20,000 members will receive less money than they had expected. Speaking on behalf of BHS staff, Dave Gill, Usdaw National Officer says: “Monday’s announcement is the final hammer blow to BHS staff, who have been worried about their future for over a year since the company was sold for £1 and more recently put in the hands of the administrators. Following the news that all remaining BHS stores will be closed by 20 August, Usdaw calls on the administrators to redouble their efforts in finding a buyer for the remaining stores and to secure as many jobs as possible.
“We also call on Sir Philip Green to honour the two promises he made to BHS staff as soon as possible after the company went into administration. Firstly, to offer employment within the Arcadia Group to the blameless, dedicated and loyal staff who suddenly find themselves unemployed. Secondly, to ‘sort’ the pension scheme and we await details of what he proposes.
