Tycoon Green defends £365m pension deal
SIR Philip Green has issued a staunch defence of his £363 million settlement deal for the BHS pension fund and accused Labour MP Frank Field of using him as a “political football”.
The billionaire tycoon said Mr Field had made “misleading statements” and was “disingenuous” for calling into question the agreement struck between himself and the Pensions Regulator.
He also accused the Birkenhead MP of being vindictive towards him and abusing his post as chairman of the Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee after he claimed Sir Philip had not done enough to keep his knighthood and remained “on the hook” for the collapse of BHS. The department store chain plunged into administration a year ago today, impacting 11,000 jobs and about 19,000 pension holders.
In a letter to Mr Field, the Arcadia boss said he had honoured his pledge to “sort the BHS pensions issue”.
He wrote: “I thought, clearly wrongly, that as chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee you had some knowledge and understanding of the very complex pensions system and how it works. That is clearly not the case. I also believe you have an obligation as Select Committee chair to understand all the facts and therefore not misrepresent them or make misleading statements.
“I made a commitment that I would sort the BHS pensions issue. I have done what I said I would do and I have put the pensioners in a considerably better position than they would have been.” TWO prosecution witnesses are to be flown over from Cambodia for the trial of a man accused of setting fire to a luxury hotel.
Final arrangements are being made to bring the pair to Wick Sheriff Court for the trial of Brendon MacNamara, 36, in a move that will cost thousands of pounds.
Mr MacNamara, of Edinburgh, is accused of wilful fire-raising at the 15th-century Ackergill Tower in Caithness.
The property, perched on the north coast a few miles outside Wick, has hosted exclusive events and was the location for television presenter Phillip Scofield’s marriage ceremony in 1993.
Yesterday, it emerged during proceedings at the court that the cost of bringing over the witnesses will run into thousands of pounds.
A video link had been mooted earlier but dismissed.
The fiscal, Fraser Matheson, said the witnesses’ long journey will involve a speedboat and a number of flights.
Mr MacNamara 36, has pleaded not guilty to setting fire to the tower on January 5, 2014.
He is alleged to have ignited a carpet, a painting and a quantity of paper, causing extensive damage to the contents of a cellar and smoke damage to all five storeys.
The tower is a Grade A-listed building owned by Clarenco. The company’s founder and chairman is Mike Clare, who made a fortune from his former bedroom furniture company, Dreams.
The hotel has 35 bedroom suites and is used for corporate hospitality and is favoured by celebrities for its privacy.
The Hollywood actors Jack Nicholson and Michael Douglas and the comedian Billy Connolly are all thought to have stayed there.
In 2012, the retreat opened its doors to the public as a hotel.
It is said to be haunted by a ghost, Helen Gunn, formerly the “Beauty of Braemore”.
The tower is thought to date back to 1475.
In 1651 Oliver Cromwell stationed his troops there during the siege of Dunnottar Castle.
It fell into disrepair in the 20th century and was bought by a couple who restored it before it reopened in 1988.
Mr MacNamara’s trial before a jury, on June 5, is expected to last two weeks.
Two scientists and an expert witness are among those scheduled to give evidence for the defence.
Mr McNamara’s bail was continued with a further pre-trial hearing due next month.