Shoppers call on Westminster to abolish NDAs

Nearly a quarter of a million people are calling on the Government to stop non-disclosure agreements being used to silence sexual harassment victims.

Two petitions have been circulated and each received more than the 100,000 signatures needed to spark a debate in Parliament, having collected 113,260 and 127,786 names. They were set up after the retail billionaire Sir Philip Green was accused of sexual and racial harassment by The Daily Telegraph.

Green, pictured, has again denied the allegations, yesterday saying there had only “been some banter” which had “never been offensive”.

A string of MPs have called for Baroness Karren Brady, who chairs Green’s umbrella company, Taveta, to appear in front of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee. She has remained silent over claims he bullied employees and whether she knew about the “substantial” payments made to those who signed the NDAs.

The Daily Telegraph was temporarily barred this week by three judges from naming the businessman and publishing confidential information from five ex-employees who had signed NDAs.

The tycoon’s fashion empire is under increasing pressure as shoppers threaten to boycott the brand. It is also thought that about 100 concessions are expected to close.

Bookmakers have been taking bets on Green being stripped of his knighthood.

Also, Paddy Power put the odds for Brady to resign from her position before the end of the year at 9/2 and 2/1 before the end of next year.