Sir Philip Green's knighthood 'under review' after BHS collapse

Sir Philip Green's knighthood is being reviewed

Sir Philip Green has refused to be questioned over the £571m pensions black hole left at BHS (Reuters)

Former BHS boss Sir Philip Green's knighthood is being reviewed in the wake of the store chain's collapse, it has been disclosed.

A Cabinet Office official has written to the Labour MP Jim McMahon confirming that the case was under consideration.

Mr McMahon was among a group of MPs who wrote to the Honours Forfeiture Committee calling for Sir Philip to be stripped of his knighthood amid criticism of the way he sold BHS to Dominic Chappell, a former bankrupt with no retail experience.

A spokesman for Sir Philip has declined to comment.

In the letter, the official wrote: “I hope you will understand that I cannot comment on the particular circumstances of Sir Philip, but I can assure you that the case is being reviewed.”

The disclosure comes just days before the publication of what is expected to be a highly critical joint report by two Commons select committees on the store chain's collapse.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “Applications for forfeiture are considered by an independent committee.

“They have been clear that they will not consider reviewing an honour until any formal reviews or investigations which establish the facts of a case have been completed. However, we continue to keep the case under review.”

PA