Former BHS owner Sir Philip Green slams politicians for ‘trial by media’ and ‘leaping to conclusions’
Sir Philip Green, the former owner of collapsed retailer BHS, has hit out at politicians for conducting a “trial by media” and “leaping to conclusions” about his 15 year ownership of the firm.
The Arcadia chief has written to Frank Field MP and Iain Wright MP, chairmen of the House of Commons Work and Pensions and Business committees respectively, both of which have called him to give evidence about the retailer. It went into administration on April 25.
In a letter Green said: “I wish to record my concerns about various statements you have made to the press for example calling for me to lose my knighthood or suggesting I have asset stripped BHS without regard to pensions and employees. These statements suggest to are leaping to conclusions before any evidence from any witness has been heard.”
Green also criticised Field for being "clearly prejudiced" and called on him to "stand down from the inquiry immediately".
He says the committee chairs appear to be encouraging “public vilification” of witnesses and asks them to “cease this trial by media”.
The letter is understood to have been triggered by comments from Mr Field to a newspaper in which he intimated Sir Philip either make the BHS pension fund whole, at a cost of £571m, or give up his knighthood.
Green owned the retailer from 2000 to 2015 when he sold it to a consortium headed by Dominic Chappell.