Karren Brady quits Sir Philip Green's retail empire Taveta

Baroness Karren Brady has quit Sir Philip Green's retail empire, just days after saying she had a "duty" to employees to remain as chairman.

Her support for the controversial tycoon's business had been under pressure for months amid staff allegations of sexual harassment, racial abuse and bullying against him.

The tycoon vigorously denies the claims.

The news was announced by Taveta Investments - the parent firm behind Sir Philip's Arcadia Group which includes Topshop.

The company said on Monday: "Taveta would like to announce that Karren Brady and Sharon Brown (in their respective capacities as non-executive chairman and non-executive director) have resigned from its board.

"Taveta thanks them for their contribution and wishes them well for the future.

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"Taveta is in active discussions with individuals who have significant relevant experience and expects to make a further announcement as to the composition of its board shortly."

Baroness Brady had joined the Taveta board in 2010 and took over as chairman in 2017.

The Apprentice star, who is also vice-chairman of West Ham football club and a former government business adviser, has been a high-profile critic of abuse and a champion for women's rights in the workplace.

She faced claims of hypocrisy for refusing to distance herself from Sir Philip in a rare statement earlier this month.

Lady Brady's agent said then she felt a "sense of duty" to the retail empire's staff, including her own daughter, the majority of them being women.

To resign would be the "easy" option, she said.

Former TV dragon Duncan Bannatyne was among those to criticise her stance, describing her decision to stay as "disgusting".

Lady Brady and Ms Brown were yet to comment on their decisions to quit.

The baroness used her Twitter account hours earlier to retweet a post from former US first lady and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton saying "immigrants and women move humanity forward".

Baroness Brady wrote: "Great positive quote to start the morning".

Her agent told Sky News there would be no statement to accompany her decision to resign.