Victims must get a proper hearing

IT IS only by listening to women that we can tackle the scourge of sexual harassment across society.

That’s why the first-hand testimony by the Record’s former political reporter Pippa Crerar is so important.

Her hard-hitting account of sexual misconduct and misogyny at the heart of Westminster is both eye-opening and disturbing.

It’s deeply depressing that this type of male behaviour has been normalised to such an extent that for decades it was just considered a part of life.

Stark accounts of spiked drinks, sexual assault and lecherous MPs are barely believable.

The last few weeks have marked a watershed that means this horrific behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated any longer.

And former Defence Secretary Michael Fallon had no choice but to quit when it became clear his behaviour had been unacceptable in the past.

As the most powerful woman in the country, Prime Minister Theresa May had a golden opportunity to use his departure to send a strong signal.

She could, for example, have made history by appointing Britain’s first female defence secretary. Instead, she gave the job to unknown party whip Gavin Williamson.

His office compiled a list of MPs’ shameful secrets, clearly meant to wield power over politicians rather than to clean up the party.

That Williamson has ultimately benefited from the scandal seems perverse.

The PM would be better off listening to voices like Pippa and not a male whip with ambitions on her job.

Because if we can’t stamp out sexual misconduct in Parliament, what hope do we have for a wider society?