May crackdown call to clean up Parliament
THERESA May last night called for tougher rules to protect MPs’ staff from bad treatment, saying the current system lacked “teeth”.
The Prime Minister spoke amid fears her government will be fatally destabilised by claims about MPs – including serving ministers – making advances to female staff and journalists.
Aides strongly denied a report that Mrs May got jokey weekly briefings from Tory chief whip Gavin Williamson about MPs’ bad behaviour, including sexual misdoings and drug-taking.
And they stressed her track record in championing women’s rights in public life. Mrs May wrote yesterday to the House of Commons Speaker John Bercow seeking his help in cleaning up Parliament. In her letter – copied to all party leaders – she said the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, which governs MPs’ pay and staffing, had suggested a disciplinary procedure to be included in contracts when employing staff.
“However, it does not have the required teeth as contractually an MP does not have to follow the procedure,” she wrote.
“I do not believe that this situation can be tolerated any longer.” She said her party was determined to protect MPs’ staff.
“We must establish a House-wide mediation service complemented by a contractually binding grievance procedure available for all MPs.”
She asked for Mr Bercow’s help “in doing all we can to ensure that the reputation of Parliament is not damaged further by allegations of impropriety”.
Staff in the House of Commons already have a 24/7 confidential phone line they can call with concerns but there are reports they feel their complaints are not properly heard or acted upon.