MPs step up calls for ‘robber baron’ Sir Philip Green to be stripped of his knighthood
Jibe thrown at company's former boss while Sports Direct's Mike Ashley makes pitch to buy folded firm
EX-BHS tycoon Sir Philip Green was branded a “robber baron” last night as politicians stepped up calls for him to be stripped of his knighthood.
Tory backbencher Richard Fuller said MPs would seek to remove Sir Philip’s gong if he refuses to appear before a Work and Pensions Select Committee investigating the demise of BHS on Wednesday.
Sir Philip has threatened he won’t come unless “biased” Committee chair, Labour’s Frank Field, steps down given his fierce criticism of the billionaire.
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell repeated his call yesterday for the knighthood to go if Sir Philip fails to appear.
And he said the collapse of BHS was an example of how the culture that caused the banking crisis was now in “other sectors of our economy”.
Mr McDonnell – whose Mum worked at BHS – added: “I meet people in my constituency and they’re under the cosh from some of these robber baron buccaneers who are short term profiteering.
“It’s distorting our economy.”
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He said: “It he doesn’t turn up to committee and he doesn’t participate he should have it withdrawn.
"I don’t think these honours should be awarded to people if they don’t participate and support the democratic process.”
A spokesman for Frank Field last night said he still expected Sir Philip to attend on Wednesday.
Last-ditch buyout bid from Mike Ashley
MIKE Ashley has written to BHS’ administrators urging them to reopen talks in a last ditch bid to save the brand and up to half the stores and jobs.
The Sports Direct founder was interested in buying the chain before it collapsed into administration in late April and again before it folded this month.
Now he has asked administrators Duff & Phelps to give him one last chance to save the company.
His letter sent over the weekend calls for talks to reopen to “save a number of stores, jobs and the BHS name”.
It is understood he wants to put together a rescue plan to keep open up to 80 of the chain’s 163 stores.
As many as half of 11,000 BHS jobs could also be saved.
A Sports Direct source said last night: “It is a genuine attempt to save BHS. Mr Ashley has written to the administrators through his advisers asking for further discussion.
“The plan is to save between 60 and 80 of the stores, so a fair chunk of the total number.”
It is a genuine attempt to save BHS ... the plan is to save between 60 and 80 of the stores
Sports Direct insider
Mr Ashley appeared before the business select committee last week to answer questions over treatment of staff at the main Sports Direct warehouse in Shirebrook, Derbyshire.
During the quizzing by MPs last Tuesday he also revealed he had been “100 per cent” interested in buying BHS, before administrators announced on June 2 it was to be wound down.
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