Ros Altmann

Baroness Altmann recalls how Sir Philip Green tried to intimidate her over BHS pension scheme scandal

Iknow what it feels like to be bullied and intimidated by Sir Philip Green because I’ve been there. In a way it is ironic. Having spent much of my career fighting against women being mistreated in the workplace, there I was, as Pensions Minister in David Cameron’s government, on the receiving end of Sir Philip’s unique management style.

It was just weeks before BHS went into administration when I started being bombarded with texts from the businessman, whom I had met in the past. The Pensions Regulator – also a woman – was already looking into the pension scheme at BHS after it was sold to former bankrupt Dominic Chappell for £1 in March 2015. Sir Philip was furious about being investigated.

It was January 2016, and because I was Pensions Minister, Sir Philip probably thought that I had some way of influencing the Pensions Regulator.

He bullied and intimidated me over the course of several weeks. I suspect he believed, perhaps because we had shared acquaintances outside of the business world, that I would break the rules for him. He became angry when I refused to do so.

He wanted to meet with me but I repeatedly told him it wasn’t appropriate as the Regulator was carrying out her investigation, but he wouldn’t let it go.

I counted up that I received 22 texts between January 27 and February 2 that year, some sent as early as 5am. Other messages were sent late at night – it was horrid.

He was seemingly suggesting I could pull strings for him. There was no way I was going to do it and I asked some of my officials to protect me but he even tried to get around them – it was like he could not understand the meaning of the word “No”. You couldn’t say “No” to him. He used threatening language, telling me I was making “a big mistake” and suggesting both the Regulator and my officials were incompetent. He was trying to intimidate me – and all I kept on thinking at the time was: “He wouldn’t treat a man like this”. I believe he behaved like that because I was a woman.

So I decided to release the texts to the Work and Pensions Select Committee, which questioned Sir Philip about the pensions deficit in June 2016, a month before I resigned as pensions minister.

People were shocked at what I had been put through.

I don’t think women in 2018 should be treated that way. In this day and age we need to get past the time when men think we can be bullied and intimidated. I don’t wish Sir Philip Green ill, I’m just angry that he treated me like that. I felt threatened and upset – I effectively had to fight him off – he wanted me to break rules and got cross with me because I wouldn’t.

Even after I left office, when I publicly urged him to rescue his loyal staff ’s pensions, he called a mutual connection to tell me to “back off ”, reportedly saying “What business is it of hers?” Of course, I had only been the Pensions Minister. I am pleased that he put £360million into the BHS

‘It was like he could not understand the meaning of the word No. You could not say No to him. He told me I was making a big mistake’

scheme, but I did feel threatened by his behaviour beforehand.

I’m sure I’ll be lambasted for speaking out but I owe it to other women not to keep quiet. I want to show that in this day and age men should not think it’s OK to behave like this and think they can get away with it.

I want people to know what he tried to do. Having spent so many decades fighting for women’s rights and having made so much progress, we mustn’t let it go.

I owe it to my two daughters – and my son – to speak out. I know how hard it was for me and how stressed and distressed I felt and I don’t want other women to have to go through that. However rich and powerful they are, men have no right to treat women like this.

Baroness Altmann was Pensions Minister from 2015 to 2016