Our pledge to Sir Phil

Because this is the season of goodwill to all men we wish you a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. If only because maybe ... just maybe ... you finally sign that cheque to resolve the BHS pension crisis.

You’ve not had the easiest of years. But then again neither have those who lost their jobs with BHS and the pensions they thought they would be enjoying in old age.

We’ve spoken to some of your former loyal employees. They’re not best pleased with your behaviour, and you won’t be surprised to l earn they will be scrimping this Christmas.

That’s why we called you on your mobile phone. To ask whether you feel you are any closer to sorting out this mess. You asked for your comments to be off the record and we agreed.

However, one comment was so extraordinary that we felt we had no choice but to share it with former BHS staff and a wider audience.

You said that part of the reason why you’re not paying up as quickly as some might have hoped was because the likes of us, in the media, keep putting you on the spot and writing stories about you. And that is “definitely part” of the reason why you’ve so far failed to cough up.

That’s a quite extraordinary statement and one, we’d argue, is in the public interest to publish.

We acknowledge you’ve been given a rough ride. But then again when you flogged BHS for a quid to a three-time bankrupt and failure like Dominic Chappell, quite frankly what do you expect ?

You’ve made a pretty penny out of BHS over the 15 years you owned it. Lady Green hasn’t done too badly either.

The collapse of BHS with the loss of 11,000 jobs leaving a pension deficit of £571million was a mighty blow to those who toiled for you, some of them over decades. They rightly feel they’ve been short changed. They deserve better than a rather miserable excuse as to why their future pension entitlement is in the air.

So here’s the deal... certainly as far as the Sunday People newspaper is concerned, and perhaps our journalistic colleagues might be tempted to follow suit. We’re going to leave you alone. We won’t call you, we won’t picture you on your jaunts on your yachts, or anywhere else... provided, of course, you resolve the pension deficit. Happy with that ?

And if you can deliver a deal to those paying the price for what you described as your “honest mistake” in selling BHS to Chappell than perhaps your former staff might be happier too...

And this is sincere, Sir Philip. We do think you deserve to keep you knighthood if you can reach a settlement with the Pensions Regulator.

You are the King of the high street. You provide livelihoods for thousands of people. You are one of the most generous benefactors in Britain. And you keep us amused with your extravagant and indulgent lifestyle. For all of that we are grateful. But please just sign the cheque.

Yours