It’s time to ban gagging clauses

IT’S no surprise that Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein used gagging clauses to stop many of his victims revealing his persistent abuse.

Such contracts are an easy method used by the rich and powerful to prevent evidence of their potential crimes being made public. Gagging clauses have also been used by professional football clubs to stop young players revealing how they have been sexually abused by coaches.

Having promised to change the balance of power in society between the strong and the weak, and between the rich and the poor, Mrs May has the perfect opportunity to introduce legislation to ban gagging clauses and confidentiality agreements — which have for too long suppressed evidence of crime and wrongdoing.