SNP LAUNCH DOUBLE SEX PEST PROBE
Party investigates claims of ‘inappropriate conduct’ May orders crackdown on sleaze at Westminster
THE SNP is investigating two complaints of inappropriate behaviour following allegations that women working at Holyrood have been victims of a ‘ catalogue’ of sexual harassment.
Details of the two ‘unconnected’ reports came as Nicola Sturgeon admitted she fully expects her party, along with others, to receive complaints from female employees.
Earlier this week, a prominent Scots lawyer claimed women working at the Scottish parliament had reported stalking, sexual assault and harassment. He said perpetrators would have been arrested, charged, prosecuted and
put on the sex offenders register if their behaviour had been investigated.
Parliament bosses have now set up a dedicated, anonymous hotline to help victims expose sexual abuse and harassment in Scottish politics – with party leaders to hold a summit on the issue today.
The moves comes amid a growing scandal at Westminster, where the Prime Minister has been warned she risks sparking a ‘witch hunt’ after government ministers were told they could be sacked for making staff ‘feel uncomfortable’.
Theresa May has ordered a crackdown on sex pests within Parliament.
The SNP last night confirmed it had received complaints of inappropriate behaviour from ‘two different individuals’ regarding ‘unconnected’ incidents.
Asked if party officials were investigating any cases of sexual harassment, or if complaints had been made, a spokesman said: ‘The SNP has had concerns of this nature raised by two different individuals. The individuals and their concerns are unconnected to each other. These will be fully investigated but inquiries remain at an early stage.’
Officials refused to give any details of the complaints, adding: ‘We will do nothing to deter people from coming forward and, as such, we will not comment further while investigations are ongoing.’
It came hours after Miss Sturgeon said she expected allegations would be made against members of her party, claiming: ‘I don’t think any party can assume it’s immune from behaviour like this.’
Speaking in Dundee, she pledged to take a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach and said party officials would ‘look critically’ at the procedures in place for reporting and dealing with allegations.
Lawyer Aamer Anwar has said a number of women – from MSPs to interns – have contacted him about incidents including stalking, sexual assault and bullying.
It has led to parliament chiefs setting up an anonymous phoneline for victims to report problems, and unveiling plans for an anonymous survey to determine how widespread they are.
In a joint statement, Holyrood presiding officer Ken Macintosh and chief executive Sir Paul Grice said: ‘The parliament takes a zerotolerance approach to sexual or any other form of harassment and we would strongly urge anyone who has witnessed or experienced harassment to report it to the parliamentary authorities.’
Yesterday, it was reported three male MSPs had been accused of ‘creepy behaviour’ towards women – including unwanted sexual advances and telling lewd jokes.
The first female staff member at Holyrood to say she has been a victim of harassment was SNP worker Rosa Zambonini. Writing in a public blog, she said: ‘ Have I been harassed in the Scottish parliament? Yes. I will not be scared of a backlash. I will not be dictated to.’
Former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale also spoke about a ‘ number of instances’ in which MSPs have been subjected to ‘inappropriate sexual behaviour’.
Former Tory MSP Mary Scanlon told a newspaper she had been ‘upset’ by incidents of sexual harassment when she had been at Holyrood.
Mrs Scanlon, who stood down last year, said: ‘Throughout my life, and including being an MSP, comments are made and you don’t want to be too difficult, you don’t want to be too precious.’
While the other Holyrood parties said yesterday that they were not investigating any allegations of harassment, the parliament revealed it had received a number of complaints in the past five years.
The Scottish Government is understood to have received fewer than five complaints since 2013. A source said the allegations were believed to relate to civil servant level.
A Scottish parliament spokesman said: ‘Over the last five years approximately, the number of cases reported to or brought to the attention of parliamentary officials, r egarding i nappropriate behaviour or harassment, is in single figures.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘It is important staff know they can report these matters… with the confidence that they will be taken seriously, that they will be supported and that the matter will be properly addressed, including through a police investigation where allegations relate to criminal conduct.’