Harrods boss Mohamed al-Fayed was a bully “used to getting his own way” the home secretary who rejected his application for citizenship has said. Jack Straw also told The Independent Fayed was “absolutely furious” after the decision was taken to refuse him a British passport in 1999.

Lawyers in Britain representing dozens of women say that Mohamed Al Fayed, the former boss of Harrods, was a “monster” who raped and sexually abused young women throughout his time at the helm of the world-renowned London department store.