Mothercare is to swing the axe on 50 underperforming stores and re-hire the chief executive it sacked just weeks ago as part of a wide-ranging shake-up.

The closures, which will result in hundreds of job losses, will be carried out through a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) – a move which allows companies to close loss-making shops and secure rental discounts.

Mothercare employs about 3,000 people across 137 outlets.

For more click here.

Meghan Markle’s father will be “heartbroken” to miss his daughter’s wedding, it has been reported.

Thomas Markle Jr, the brother of Ms Markle, visited Windsor Castle to see where his sibling will marry Prince Harry.

Mr Markle Jr’s claims came on the day his father was due to undergo heart surgery, and an entertainment website reported he had successfully had three stents fitted.

For more click here.

The House of Commons has signed more than 50 non-disclosure agreements with employees over the last five years, official figures suggest.

MPs described the findings as “disturbing” and questioned the need for “gagging clauses” deals in Parliament after the data was released by Liberal Democrat former minister Tom Brake, on behalf of the House of Commons Commission.

Mr Brake said there were 53 agreements, including those formerly known as compromise agreements, with employees between 2013 and 2017 – with confidentiality clauses included in “all or almost all” of them.

For more click here.