Sir Philip Green ‘grabbed breasts’ of female workers, Labour peer claims
Topshop tycoon Sir Philip Green repeatedly groped his female employees, a Labour peer has claimed.
Lord Hain used parliamentary privilege to reveal a list of accusations of inappropriate behaviour by the retail magnate, who has strongly denied allegations of harassment.
Read more: Sir Philip Green loses his billionaire status
It is the second time Hain has used his position in parliament to confront Green, with the peer naming him as the businessman at the centre of an investigation by the Telegraph into inappropriate behaviour last October.
Green accused Hain of a conflict of interest following the first allegations, related to Hain's role as an adviser to the Telegraph's law firm. Hain was later exonerated by a parliamentary standards commissioner.
Speaking in the Lords yesterday, Hain went even further as he read out details of a complaint made by one of Green’s former employees.
Quoting the ex-member of staff, Hain said: "'He was touching and repeatedly slapping women staff's bottoms, grabbing thighs and touching legs.
"'Hundreds of grievance cases were raised with HR. The company lawyer who interviewed me then lied. Sir Philip screamed and shouted at staff 'to go to psychologists'.
“Victims went to an employment tribunal but were told it would not get anywhere so settled with an NDA.
"'Some were worn down with spiralling legal costs costing them a fortune. He broke some in the end. It was horrible.
"He is still doing exactly the same thing. It is rife, it happened all the time. I saw him grab the breasts of others.
"This has gone on for a long time’.”
The BBC quoted Green reacting to the latest claims by saying: "How sad somebody who already has proven they're prepared to abuse the system wants to continue to behave in this manner."
Read more: Sir Philip Green's complaint against Lord Hain gets dismissed
In a statement yesterday evening, Arcadia Group's board said the comments by Hain are "unfounded", adding: "There have never been hundreds of complaints as stated by Lord Hain, additionally, Sir Philip has not been present in the London head offices for nearly a year.
Green added: “To abuse parliamentary privilege in this way at this time knowing the damage it can cause is beyond irresponsible.”