Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SIR SLEAZY: I’M BORED WITH ALL THIS RUBBISH...
» Billionaire Green’s arrogant rant over grope & bully claims » MPs want to grill tycoon over his £1m ‘hush money’ NDAs » Calls are mounting to strip the Topshop boss of knighthood
MPs last night called for billionaire Sir Philip Green to be hauled before Parliament as the tycoon told the Sunday Mirror: “I’m bored with this rubbish… I’m off to bed.”
Their demand came as it emerged the beleaguered Topshop owner had paid millions to ex-employees to silence abuse claims with controversial nondisclosure agreements (NDAs).
And in the growing fury over the billionaire’s use of gagging orders, Green, 66, faced a renewed call to be stripped of his knighthood.
Speaking to the Sunday Mirror last night, Green refused to be drawn on claims that he planned to sue his alleged victims if they broke their NDAs.
Instead he moaned that he was sick of their allegations. He said: “I’ve done enough of this, I’m bored with this rubbish, OK? This is really becoming boring now… I’m going, I’m off to bed.”
GROPED
Yesterday Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi called for Green to face her Women and Equalities Committee, which has launched an inquiry into NDAs
She said: “His wealth and privilege means he can use them to silence people he is accused of bullying and harassing. He should be brought before us to answer questions on this.”
Green is said to have groped women and put a female executive in a headlock before dragging her round a room. He is also accused of mocking a black employee’s dreadlocks, allegedly saying he smoked cannabis and was
“still throwing spears in the jungle”. The executive, who worked for Green’s Arcadia group, complained and signed a gagging order after getting a payout. The claims were disclosed on Friday after Green dropped a High Court injunction against the Daily Telegraph, costing him £3million.
It has emerged three women and two men each signed a gagging clause in return for pay-offs.
One employee claimed Green referred to a Chinese businessman as “Mr Ching Chong Charlie” and called another worker “Bhaji” and
“Curry”. Labour’s Frank Field said the claims needed fresh scrutiny by a Parliamentary committee – six months after the tycoon gave evidence on the collapse of BHS. He said: “He’s able to shut everybody up by giving them £1 million. He needs to explain his style of leadership in Parliament.”
Jess Phillips, MP for Birmingham and Yardley, described Sir Philip’s use of gagging orders as “morally bankrupt”.
She said: “This is five different people seemingly telling very similar stories about what it’s like to work for him.
“They are terrible allegations, and groping and touching are criminal acts. Using NDAs for sexual harassment cases like this is morally bankrupt.” Labour Party chair Ian Lavery said: “If the allegations are true, Philip Green should be stripped of his knighthood. The public expect high standards from public figures and they’re not getting it.”
Green has denied unlawful sexual or racist behaviour. The Telegraph reported he allegedly groped a female executive and paid her £1million to stay silent. It is claimed he slapped her bottom, kissed her face and called her a “naughty girl”.
Court documents show Green’s lawyers said his “style is predominately jovial in nature”.