Whips can’t control Parliament’s predators

The system is not designed to protect MPS’ staff, but to ensure discipline and deliver the parties’ votes

The last time the Commons was in this much turmoil, the scandal was about money. This time it’s sex. As with MP’S expenses, each day appears to bring a new revelation and politicians are, once again, waiting to see if it will be them in the firing line. And there will be a fair few who are worried. There are many stories of inappropriate sexual behaviour that circulate around the corridors of power. I have heard quite a few of them, as at one time it was my job to know about them as a whip.

It is probably not a good week to quote a Kevin Spacey character, but for those familiar with the Netflix series, House of Cards, Francis Underwood makes a telling remark: “Everything is about sex, except sex – sex is about power.” Let’s not be naïve: power draws in those that like it and want to be close to it, so Westminster has plenty of consenting debauchery, often involving booze and drugs.

The problem is the misuse of power, specifically how MPS from all parties abuse their position for sexual purposes. Grabbing, groping, leering, inappropriate remarks, taking young staff members out and getting them drunk, employing people and hoping – sometimes expecting – sexual favours in return, these all take place across the Westminster estate.

Some of the stories get into the public domain, such as the “casting couch” of disgraced Lib Dem peer Lord Rennard, but many do not – or at least have not yet: there was the “drunken” Cabinet minister leering at young women at a party before being steered away by aides; then there’s the frontbencher who took their PA back to their flat for afternoon sex, in the process missing a Commons vote; and the backbencher who took young staffers out, bought all the drinks, then usually ended up taking one home.

Much of the attention is on vulnerable women, but that is far from the whole picture. Young men are in the firing line from sexual predators, too. There is “a gay scene”, most of which is consenting – but just as young women can be leered at and touched and spoken to inappropriately, so too are young men. When it happens, most are too embarrassed to utter a word.

Many within the media know the stories about sex pests, gropers and leerers, but they either don’t have enough evidence to prove anything (as few victims will talk) or feel that post-leveson their hands are tied. Of course senior whips in all parties also know and they do feel obliged to discreetly haul people in to see if there is any truth in the rumours and “discuss career prospects” if there is.

However, the whipping system is neither a recognised employment disciplinary process nor a human resources department. It is designed to deliver block party votes in Parliament and will therefore protect MPS up until the point where they cannot be protected any longer. Chief whips warn, threaten and even bully MPS in an attempt to modify poor behaviour – and the notorious black book of MPS’ misdeeds does exist – but more often than not that does not end the problem, so they end up merely trying to mitigate damage to the party.

The nuclear option for any chief whip is to “out” the MP, and it’s happened more often than people think. However, it is done for party advantage not the common good. The whipping system does not give those who work with MPS any protection and there is little in the way of a serious central Parliamentary personnel support system. Unless you report incidents to the police, which is not what most people want to do, there is nowhere to go.

So, what is the answer? It’s not easy and I can see why the Prime Minister has asked the Speaker to look at what can be done. The obvious action is to ensure there is a well-resourced central HR department, which works with the police where necessary and has powers to investigate complaints. But that is not without its dangers because it could end up being a place for vexatious and politically correct views to be aired. That’s why anonymity for accused MP should be guaranteed until a report is complete. This must not become just another tool to batter politicians with.

There is much that is wrong with the standard of behaviour of some in politics and it has to be rooted out. MPS must do better at stopping sexual or any other kind of harassment because they cannot make laws and then treat the law with contempt.