Furious MPs demand Sir Philip Green be stripped of his knighthood by Christmas after blasting his ‘pointless’ BHS apology

FURIOUS MPs are demanding Sir Philip Green be stripped of his knighthood by Christmas as they blasted his “pointless” BHS apology.

Speaking ahead of a Commons vote today on the tycoon’s gong, Tory Richard Fuller demanded the knighthood go in a “New Year’s Dishonours’ List”.

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The Tory backbencher called for today’s debate on Sir Philip and the BHS collapse, which cost 11,000 staff their job and threatens the pensions of thousands more.

Sir Philip sold BHS for £1 last year. The pension deficit is thought to be over £400 million.

The billionaire on Wednesday insisted he had endured a “horrible” summer and he was “very, very, very sorry” about BHS’ demise.

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But Mr Fuller said the words meant nothing without action to fill the black hole in the pension. He told the Sun: “Anyone can say sorry after the event. What we need is action, not words.”

At least 50 MPs are expected to vote for Sir Philip to lose his gong if Speaker John Bercow allows – as expected - the show of hands as part of the BHS debate in the Commons. MPs hope the vote will influence the Honours Forfeiture Committee which has the final say on annulling knighthoods.

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A motion for debate - led by Labour's Frank Field, chairman of the Work and Pensions Committee - states: "That this House notes the recent joint report by the Business, Innovation and Skills and the Work and Pensions Committees on BHS.

"(This House) endorses that report's criticisms of the governance of the company and of the holding company, Taveta Investments Limited.

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"(This House) believes that the sale of the company to Retail Acquisitions Limited for £1 was clearly not in the interests of British Home Stores' employees and pensioners.

"(This House) notes the failure of Sir Philip Green over many years to resolve the deficit in the BHS pension fund; and calls on him to fulfil his promise to do so forthwith."

Mr Fuller and independent MP Michelle Thomson have tabled an amendment asking for the Honours Forfeiture Committee to recommend Sir Philip's knighthood is "cancelled and annulled".

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It adds: "(This House) noting that Philip Green received his knighthood for his services for the retail industry, believes his actions raise the question of whether he should be allowed to continue to be a holder of the honour and calls on the Honours Forfeiture Committee to recommend his knighthood be cancelled and annulled."

Sir Philip used an ITV News interview to apologise to workers for the "hardship and sadness" caused by the collapse of BHS and claim he "did everything possible" to keep the business from going under.

He admitted it was a mistake to sell it to serial bankrupt Dominic Chappell but denied claims from Mr Field about his own conduct, with a review by the tycoon's lawyers labelling the parliamentary inquiry into the retailer's collapse as "bizarre" and "unsupportable".

The Cabinet Office in July admitted Sir Philip’s gong was under review.