May vows to act on Commons bullying

THERESA May yesterday promised a “very full response” to damning findings on workplace bullying in Parliament after an MP revealed a new case.

Two days after a report by Dame Laura Cox QC exposed the scale of the problem, Labour MP Teresa Pearce spoke out about a constituent who came to see her about being sexually harassed at work by a colleague.

“Despite many months of meetings with her HR and line management, she has been treated like the problem rather the victim,” the member for Erith and Thamesmead told the Commons.

“Could you advise me what I can do to help my constituent return to work and feel safe – when her employer is this House?” she asked, provoking shocked gasps.

The Prime Minister said she was “very concerned” about the Cox report.

“There is no place for bullying, sexual harassment or abuse in any workplace, and that includes in this parliament,” she told MPs in her first public reaction. “We have been working on this issue. I hope there will be a very serious, a very full response and a proper response to the report.”

Speaker John Bercow is facing calls to quit from some Tory MPs as Dame Laura suggested his office was not capable of introducing the necessary changes in culture. He has also been forced to deny bullying staff in the House.

However, some Labour MPs are said to be keen to keep the experienced Speaker in place as they challenge the Government over Brexit.