Westminster harassment hotline surge
CALLS to a hotline for Westminster staff to report harassment and bullying have rocketed.
Complaints are arriving at the rate of more than one every working day.
When it was set up in 2014 there were 87 calls. It rose to 240 in 2016 and in the first 10 months of this year there were 238.
Labour MP Adrian Bailey said: “The increase may indicate a raising of awareness and confidence among victims rather than an increase in harassment. It does seem the problem is not diminishing.”
The scandal has seen a string of MPs accused of misconduct, while Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon quit after admitting his behaviour fell “below high standards required”.