MPs fail to do programme

TO DO Domniic Raab

PENDING Jenrick

BORIS Johnson is among 140 Tory MPs who have failed to complete anti-sexual harassment training brought in two years ago after Westminster was rocked by abuse claims.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick have also not completed the voluntary House of Commons programme.

In all, 159 MPs have failed to do so including seven Labour, five DUP, four SNP, two SDLP and one Independent. Mr Johnson is understood to be doing it today. The training, open to anyone working in Parliament, aims to ensure they can recognise bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct and feel able to “tackle and prevent it”.

It was launched after a probe found bullying and harassment had been allowed to thrive in Parliament.

A wave of allegations in 2017 triggered the resignations of Defence Secretary Michael Fallon and Theresa May’s de facto deputy Damian Green. Tory MP Charlie Elphicke was suspended from the party after allegations and was last month convicted of sexual assault.

Allegations of rape and sexual assault against an unnamed

Tory MP are also being probed. The MP, who denies the claims, has been released on bail.

The party’s failure to suspend the MP led some to question if things have changed. Amy Leversidge of the FDA Union said: “It’s disappointing so many MPs haven’t completed training around sexual harassment as this indicates they don’t consider it of high importance.” A Government spokesman said: “All Cabinet Ministers have either taken this important course or have made arrangements to do so.”

Cabinet ministers have failed to attend the seminars, which have run since 2018