MPs vote for Green to be stripped of knighthood

MPs have approved a motion recommending ex-BHS owner Sir Philip Green should be stripped of his knighthood following a debate in the House of Commons.

During the session, Sir Philip was labelled a "billionaire spiv" and compared to Napoleon as MPs roundly criticised his role in the retail firm's collapse.

The motion, which led to today's debate, asked for the Honours Forfeiture Committee recommend the billionaire's knighthood be "cancelled and annulled".

MPs backed the non-binding motion unopposed, meaning no full vote was needed.

During the three-hour debate, Sir Philip was accused "asset-stripping" the high street retailer and treating it as his "own personal plaything", as well as having a "belligerent" attitude to the issue.

Iain Wright, chairman of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, said BHS is "one of the biggest corporate scandals of modern times.

"[Sir Philip] took the rings from BHS's fingers, he beat it black and blue, he starved it of food and water, he put it on life support, and then he wanted credit for keeping it alive."

MP David Winnick added: "I see Green as a billionaire spiv, a billionaire spiv who should never have received a knighthood, a billionaire spiv who has shamed British capitalism, and the least we can do today is to make our views clear and strong."

A spokesman for Sir Philip declined to comment.