Dozens of former Labour Party staff have been forced to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that ban them from speaking out about sexist and racist behaviour by members — despite Jeremy Corbyn pledging to ban such contractual clauses.

Officials who have been paid off since Corbyn’s allies seized control of party headquarters have signed clauses that stop them going public on the scale and severity of sexual harassment, bullying and anti-semitism cases against members. The party made extensive use of non-disclosure agreements despite Labour’s outrage at such contracts being used to conceal the identity of a leading businessman accused of sexual harassment and racism. He was named in the House of Lords as Sir Philip Green, the billionaire boss of Topshop. He has denied the claims.