Lords Speaker calls on peers to ‘respect the courts’ following Philip Green naming row
2 min read
The Speaker of the House of Lords has called on peers to respect the authority of the courts after Sir Philip Green was named in the House as the businessman behind an alleged sexual harassment scandal.
Former Labour minister Lord Hain last week used parliamentary privilege to name the retail tycoon as the figure accused by the Telegraph of using gagging orders to suppress claims against him.
The move sparked an angry response from politicians and barristers, with former attorney general Dominic Grieve calling him "arrogant".
Sir Philip, who denies the allegations, said it was "outrageous" for Lord Hain to have used the long-standing convention to reveal his identity and has said reportedly said that he will lodge a formal complaint to the Lords.
Lord Fowler, the Lords Speaker, said he had received representations from peers on the issue, and warned: “As parliamentarians we should be keen to respect the proper business of the courts, just as we expect the courts to respect the authority of parliament.
“In particular, we should be careful that in exercising our undoubted right to free speech in parliament we do not set ourselves in conflict with the courts or seek to supplant them.”
Lord Hain has stood by his decision, telling Sky News: “I stand fully by what I said in the House of Lords, I’m resolute about that. I will not be silenced or intimidated or retracting or apologising for what I told Parliament last Thursday,” he said.
“I complied with all of my obligations in the House of Lords as I have always done and I’m going to continue to stand up for citizens' rights against power, privilege and wealth.”
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