Anger of ex-MP’s victim over his Parliament pass
PARLIAMENT has failed in its duty to protect sexual abuse victims, the victim of a disgraced former MP has said.
After The Mail on Sunday revealed former Lib Dem MP Mike Hancock still has a pass that gives him unfettered access to Parliament, a vulnerable constituent who sued him for sexual harassment has called for it to be revoked.
Mr Hancock resigned from the Liberal Democrats in 2014 after admitting serious misconduct against a woman known by the pseudonym ‘Annie’, and stepped down from his Portsmouth South seat in 2015 – but he continues to have full access to Parliament with a ‘Category X’ pass.
In an exclusive interview with
The Mail on Sunday, Annie said: ‘Parliament has no care for victims of sexual abuse.
‘Hancock is allowed yet again to lord it up among women where he can be a predator yet again.’
She added: ‘It proves to me Parliament are out of touch with victims of abuse if they don’t understand the pain the victim goes through.’
Annie said finding out Mr Hancock has a parliamentary pass has made her ‘relive the abuse over again’ and that the PTSD she experienced after her ordeal has returned.
Category X passes allow former MPs unrestricted access long after they leave Parliament, including to its restaurants, bars and MP-only areas, and they are not required to declare their financial interests.
Last year, the Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle promised to clamp down on these passes after reports they were being used by lobbyists.
Annie has now written to House of Commons authorities calling for Mr Hancock’s pass to be removed immediately.
She said: ‘I feel sickened. Anger is an understatement and I will continue to fight so that this narcissist of a human being is ousted from holding anything to do with Parliament.’
The Mail on Sunday understands the Speaker tasked Sir Charles Walker, the chairman of the Administration
Committee, with looking at Mr Hancock’s pass.
Sources close to Sir Charles suggested the pass is likely to be removed following the review.
Mr Hancock previously told the MoS he has no intention of voluntarily giving up his pass.
In 2010, Mr Hancock was embroiled in a ‘Russian spy’ scandal after MI5 claimed a researcher he had a four-year affair with was a spy planted by Kremlin intelligence services. She was later cleared of the accusations.