Green too busy to fight bully claims
UNDER siege Sir Philip Green refused to respond to scandalous bullying claims yesterday, saying: “Life’s too short to talk to newspapers.”
The tycoon was accused of harassing and bullying staff in his retail empire, and even telling one black worker that his “problem” was “he was still throwing spears in the jungle”.
The claims emerged after the stores billionaire last week abandoned a court action preventing a newspaper reporting allegations from former employers. He said his efforts to stop publication were “pointless” after he was named in Parliament last year.
Asked for a response to the claims yesterday, Sir Philip, 66, declined to comment but added: “Life’s too short to talk to newspapers.”
His lawyers had said in court that he is a “passionate businessman who can at times be over-exuberant and hot-headed”.
They added: “It is further denied that any of Sir Philip’s conduct amounted to any type of crime, or anything that would amount to gross misconduct, or a serious risk to health and safety.”
Last night the Labour Party renewed calls for Sir Philip to be stripped of his knighthood if the allegations prove to be true.
The claims, published by the Daily Telegraph, included no-disclosure pay-offs to a male employee whose dreadlocks were mocked by the Arcadia boss and to a female executive who was groped. It was reported she was called a “naughty girl”, was kissed on the face on a number of occasions, had her bottom slapped and also had her weight commented on.
Yesterday Labour chairman Ian Lavery said: “If the allegations are true, then Philip Green should be stripped of his knighthood.
“The public rightly expect high standards from public figures and the Prime Minister should take steps to remove honours from people who bring their office into disrepute.”
‘If true, he must be stripped of his honour’