COMMONS SEX PESTS TURMOIL
Up to13 MPs face accusations ++ PM demands new conduct rules ++ But critics warn against comparisons to Weinstein
THERESA May was last night battling to contain a Westminster sexual harassment scandal. With up to 13 MPs accused of misconduct, she has reportedly threatened to sack any Cabinet minister proved to be a sex pest. And Mrs May has written to Commons Speaker John Bercow to demand a shake-up of ‘toothless’ disciplinary procedures.
Brexit minister Mark Garnier faces a formal probe into claims he made his secretary buy sex toys for him and called her ‘sugar t*ts’ in public. He denies sexual harassment and says the allegations are exaggerated.
Yesterday a journalist said a Tory MP made a drunken lunge at her following a Westminster lunch. But amid the fresh wave of lurid allegations one MP warned the claims should not be confused with the very serious accusations against movie mogul Harvey
Weinstein. Rumours were swirling round Parliament last night that two Cabinet ministers were among politicians accused of being sex pests. Both privately insist no allegations have been put to them.
Separately, former minister Stephen Crabb admitted sending explicit messages to a 19-year-old woman after a job interview in Parliament.
Although only Conservative figures have been suspected, it is believed senior Labour politicians – including two former frontbenchers – have also been accused. In other developments:
A former Tory minister was said to have propositioned his secretary by asking her to ‘come and feel the length of my **** ’;
The Prime Minister held an emergency meeting in Downing Street;
Mr Bercow will chair a hearing early this week to discuss ways to protect MPs’ staff;
A serving Cabinet minister is alleged to have placed his hand on the thigh of a senior female journalist and said ‘God, I love those t***’;
Anonymous reports suggested a second senior minister had an affair with a junior female aide who is also an MP;
A Liberal Democrat peer was rumoured to have invited female journalists to lunch, telling them to wear knee-high boots and short skirts;
MPs were said to be sharing stories about a Conservative who allegedly takes pictures of young men in compromising positions and uses them to extract sexual favours;
Diane Abbott refused to condemn John McDonnell over comments he made about a female Tory MP ‘being lynched’;
Tory MPs asked why Lord Kinnock had not faced criticism for making a joke about Weinstein at the weekend.
Yesterday, Mrs May wrote to Mr Bercow to demand the establishment of a grievance procedure to deal with Westminster harassment complaints.
The Prime Minister said: ‘It is important that those who work in the House of Commons are treated properly and fairly.’
She criticised the disciplinary procedure operated by Commons watchdog Ipsa, because it was not compulsory for MPs to sign up. She added: ‘I do not believe that this situation can be tolerated any longer.’
Yesterday, political journalist Jane Merrick told BBC News she had been the victim of the after-lunch pass by a Tory MP.
The Mail on Sunday reported that Mr Crabb admitted sending explicit messages to a 19-year-old woman he interviewed for a job in 2013, when he was a Welsh minister.
Mr Crabb resigned last year as work and pensions secretary following reports of a similar incident. Labour MP John Mann called on Mrs May to sack Mr Garnier and to remove the whip from Mr Crabb.
Conservative backbencher Andrew Bridgen accused Labour of spreading the allegations against Tory MPs to distract from the furore over their suspended MP Jared O’Mara for making sexist and homophobic comments. He said: ‘These rumours have been flying around for years, so why are they coming out now?’
He added: ‘We’ve got to be very careful that we don’t confuse stupid, inappropriate and sexual behaviour with what Harvey Weinstein has been accused of.
‘He has been accused of rape, sexual assault and requiring sex for career advancement.’
It is believed a number of senior Labour figures have been accused. One MP was sent home from a foreign Parliamentary trip after making an inappropriate approach to a woman. Other senior figures are described as ‘repeat offenders’.
Comment – Page 14