Topshop tycoon Green ‘wholly denies’ staff abuse claims

TOPSHOP owner Sir Philip Green has “categorically and wholly” denied being guilty of “unlawful sexual or racist behaviour”.

The denial came after the retail tycoon was named in Parliament as the businessman behind an injunction against the Daily Telegraph.

Former NI Secretary Lord Hain said he had been contact- ed by someone “intimately involved” in the case and felt it was his duty to use parliamentary privilege to name Sir Philip. Lord Hain’s intervention came after Court of Appeal judges temporarily barred the Telegraph from publishing “confidential information” about a figure the newspaper described as a “leading businessman”. The paper wants to reveal what it calls “alleged sexual harassment and racial abuse of staff”, who have been prevented from discussing their claims by non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).

The Labour peer told the House of Lords: “Having been contacted by somebody intimately involved in the case of a powerful businessman using non-disclosure agreements and substantial payments to conceal the truth about serious and repeated sexual harassment, racist abuse and bullying, which is compulsively continuing, I feel it’s my duty under parliamentary privilege to name Philip Green (inset) as the individual in question given that the media have been subject to an injunction preventing publication of the full details of a story which is clearly in the public interest.”

The Arcadia Group chairman’s brands include Topshop, Topman, Wallis, Evans, Burton, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins and Outfit.

Later, Sir Philip released a statement saying: “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.

“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.”