{"id":3719,"date":"2018-10-28T07:27:17","date_gmt":"2018-10-28T07:27:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.styledeals.co.uk\/blog\/sir-philip-green-there-was-only-banter\/"},"modified":"2018-10-28T07:27:17","modified_gmt":"2018-10-28T07:27:17","slug":"sir-philip-green-there-was-only-banter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.styledeals.co.uk\/blog\/sir-philip-green-there-was-only-banter\/","title":{"rendered":"Sir Philip Green: ‘There was only banter’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Sir Philip Green has again denied allegations of harassment – saying there had only “been some banter” which had “never been offensive”.<\/p>\n

Speaking to the Mail on Sunday<\/a> from a spa in Arizona, he said he was happy to apologise if anything caused offence. <\/p>\n

The High Street tycoon spoke to the paper after a week where he was accused of sexual and racial harassment against former employees. <\/p>\n

He described it as “the worst week of my life”. <\/p>\n

What has Sir Philip said?<\/h2>\n
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Sir Philip told the Mail on Sunday that he felt he was “being used as target practice when there is zero [evidence] that anyone has turned up with”.<\/p>\n

“It’s injuring my business, all the people potentially working in the business, and it’s injuring me and my family,” he added. <\/p>\n

He also told the paper: “I’ve been in business for more than 40 years. <\/p>\n

“There has obviously from time to time been some banter, but as far as I’m concerned that’s never been offensive.”<\/p>\n

In an earlier statement he “categorically and wholly” denied allegations of “unlawful sexual or racist behaviour”.<\/p>\n

Why is he in the news?<\/h2>\n
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Media caption<\/span>Monaco, models and money \u2013 who is retail mogul Sir Philip Green? <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The tycoon has been the centre of an eight-month investigation by the Daily Telegraph.<\/p>\n

The paper says that former employees of Sir Philip have accused him of sexual and racial harassment. <\/p>\n

But the Court of Appeal granted Sir Philip an injunction, preventing the paper from naming him.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday the Telegraph reported “a leading businessman” was granted an injunction.<\/a><\/p>\n

The paper said interviews with five members of staff revealed that victims had been paid “substantial sums” in return for legal commitments not to discuss their alleged experiences.<\/p>\n

Why was he named in Parliament?<\/h2>\n
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Media caption<\/span>Lord Hain said the details were “clearly in the public interest”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although the press were gagged, MPs and peers are protected from being prosecuted over statements made in the Commons or Lords under Parliamentary privilege. <\/p>\n

Labour peer Lord Hain identified the Topshop boss in the Lords on Thursday, saying he felt it was his duty to do so because “it was in the public interest”.<\/p>\n

The Telegraph and the media at large were then entitled to report Lord Hain’s statement in Parliament.<\/p>\n