Sexual harassment row hits Holyrood as women accuse MSPs
HOLYROOD is embroiled in a new scandal after one in three women working there said they had experienced sexual harassment or sexist behaviour.
A survey of more than 1,000 staff indicates that inappropriate behaviour is rife.
MSPs were the perpetrators in nearly half of all alleged cases of sexual harassment, it found.
Nine respondents claimed they had unwanted physical contact from an MSP.
In the anonymous survey, workers said they had experienced a range of unwanted physical contact, such as inappropriate touching, groping, massaging and stroking.
Concerns were raised that sexual harassment is not treated seriously enough.
One respondent was quoted as saying: ‘I’ve known the majority of people conducting in an inappropriate manner to be MSPs, as they know the staff here are conditioned to give them the VIP treatment.
‘On the occasion that I did report [an] incident I felt like I was not listened to and not given chance to explain my concerns... it was treated like idle office gossip and a bit of a joke.’
Nicola Sturgeon described the findings as a ‘disgrace’.
The study, set up last year, attracted 1,039 responses. It found that, in 40 per cent of cases of sexual harassment, staff had done nothing about it.
In 45 per cent of cases, the perpetrator was an MSP, while in 40 per cent of incidents it was a member of parliament staff. And 17 per cent of respondents said there is a culture or atmosphere which discourages the reporting of harassment, while 18 per cent said there is a need for long-term ‘cultural change’.
Miss Sturgeon said: ‘I am shocked, saddened and disappointed by these survey results. It is clear that women and men – but mainly women – have put up with behaviour that is unacceptable.
‘The fact women and men have experienced harassment or sexism in our parliament is a disgrace but we must seize this opportunity to change our society and culture for all and for good.’
Just over half of those who had experienced harassment said it took place in the current parliamentary term.
Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh said the findings made ‘difficult reading’ and apologised to anyone who had experienced inappropriate behaviour, adding that he was determined to address the problem.
Among the steps being taken by a joint working group set up earlier this year are developing a programme of education for staff, introducing special training for managers and improving reporting procedures.
Labour MSP Kezia Dugdale called the findings concerning but not surprising.
Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said: ‘This report only underlines the fact that we need to act in order to remove sexual harassment from public life.
‘All parties must demonstrate a zero tolerance approach.’
‘Saddened and disappointed’