A national humiliation
Culture of silence over groping and bullying
THERE is a conspiracy of silence over abuse and bullying of women in Parliament, a report claims.
Workers are allegedly preyed on by “boorish male MPs” who grope them, comment on their appearance and quiz them on their sex lives.
The independent inquiry heard the cover-up comes from the top down and has slammed the current leadership, including Speaker John Bercow.
Complaints included frequent propositioning and “inappropriate touching” – in an atmosphere fuelled by ready access to alcohol.
Women also claim to have been abused in “vulgar gender-related terms” and sworn at and belittled “almost daily”. The inquiry launched in
April after claims clerks and other officials at the Palace of Westminster were bullied by MPs.
Those accused, including Mr Bercow, strongly deny the claims.
But the report said:
“The most serious allegations related to alleged ‘predatory’ conduct of a few individuals, but overall the allegations indicate sexual harassment has been a more widespread problem.”
It added managers are unwilling to challenge MPs, who “have never feared any discipline over bad behaviour”. Dame Laura Cox QC, who led
the probe, said a new complaints and grievance process “won’t come close to solving the problems”.
Labour’s Jess Phillips, on the Women and Equalities Committee, said it was about “a power imbalance where the staff feel they have to keep quiet”. Leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom said: “I will study the findings closely and consider next steps.”
The Commons Executive Board said it met yesterday over the report, which made “difficult reading”. It said: “We accept the need for change.”
Sexual harassment has been a widespread problem REPORT ON COMMONS STAFF EXPERIENCES
IF Brexit was about taking back control, Theresa May has lost it.
The Prime Minister looked and sounded like an onlooker yesterday, not the stateswoman our country demands in this hour of need.
This is fast becoming a moment of national humiliation, in which 27 European nations are more united than two dozen Cabinet Tories.
Promises given to leaders across the Channel and Irish Sea have no chance of being delivered.
And all the while real incomes and the real jobs of real people are on the line.
Not to mention the security of the nation. Oh, and peace in a part of it riven by bloody conflict for three decades.
The amateurishness of the Downing Street operation is beyond risible.
Unless a rabbit is suddenly pulled from a hat, future generations will look back in astonishment at how we have sleepwalked into such an avoidable crisis.
Hoping something turns up isn’t a strategy. It is cowardice.
The Prime Minister must stand up for what she believes. If she still knows what that is.