Philip Green pictured relaxing on board his £100m superyacht in Monaco as he claims he is working ‘every day’ to fix BHS pension crisis
Tycoon under fire for holidaying on his 300ft vessel while MPs investigate the collapse of the high street chain
SIR PHILIP Green claimed he is “working every day” to clear up the BHS pension mess despite being pictured relaxing on board his £100m superyacht.
The Topshop tycoon has faced criticism for holidaying on his 300ft vessel Lionheart while MPs investigate the collapse of the high street chain this summer.
He released a statement this morning defending himself, apologising to BHS employees and insisting he was putting the effort in to help find a solution.
And the businessman batted off claims he is trying to wriggle out of stumping up cash after BHS was left with a £571million pension deficit when he sold it to Dominic Chappell for £1.
But photos taken yesterday appear to show the billionaire relaxing with his feet up on the lower deck of the plush boat moored up in Monaco.
An onlooker who took the picture said: "So much for working flat out.
"He may well be on his lunch break I suppose, but it will certainly raise a few eyebrows given what he said about working every day."
Sir Philip said he has been co-operating with the pensions regulator for about 18 months and "providing whatever has been requested on a very regular basis".
He stressed that his cooperation is wholly voluntary, but that he still intends "to try and find a solution" to the BHS pensions debacle.
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The 64-year-old owned BHS for 15 years before flogging it to serial bankrupt Mr Chappell, who had no experience in retail, in 2015.
It collapsed in April putting 11,000 jobs and 22,000 pensions at risk, sparking a lengthy parliamentary inquiry and a potential criminal investigation for its owners.
In the statement from his yacht, Sir Philip denied media reports he has attempted to pressure or blackmail the pensions regulator, and took aim at veteran Labour MP Frank Field.
"Mr Field suggested in the House of Commons on Wednesday there was a lack of willingness on my part to reach a settlement with regard to the pension fund. This is untrue, totally inaccurate and unhelpful in solving this issue," Sir Philip said.
The MP has asked the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to launch a formal investigation into both Sir Philip and Mr Chappell to determine if any criminal wrongdoing occurred during the sale of the chain and throughout their respective ownerships.
It comes after prankster Simon Brodkin renamed his yacht "BHS Destroyer", after sailing up to it and hanging a sign.
He tweeted pictures of himself under his stage name Lee Nelson saying: "Good of Sir Philip Green to rename his £100 million yacht to something more appropriate. I was glad to help."