Three Conservative cabinet ministers and two Labour shadow cabinet ministers have been referred to a parliamentary watchdog that deals with complaints against MPs, it has been reported.
The Sunday Times said the three members of Boris Johnson’s team and two from Sir Keir Starmer’s are facing allegations of sexual misconduct.
They are among 56 MPs who have been referred to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) in relation to about 70 separate complaints, it reported.
The allegations among the 56 range from making sexually inappropriate comments to more serious wrongdoing, the paper said, with at least one complaint believed to involve criminality and an allegation than an MP “bribed a member of staff in return for sexual favours”.
What we are seeing is this number of complaints being raised now that we at least have an independent mechanism for dealing with them
The ICGS was set up as an independent process with cross-party backing in 2018 after the so-called Pestminster scandal, which saw the spotlight shone on sexual harassment in the rooms and corridors of power.
It operates a hotline allowing those who work in Westminster, including the staff of MPs and peers, to ring in to lodge a complaint or seek advice.
According to the body’s 2021 annual report, the service had been used by people stating they were MPs.
It exists to allow workers to report experiences of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct. They can also report having been witness to, or aware of, such behaviour.
In a statement on its website, Jo Willows, the director of the ICGS said the service is an “important step forward in tackling inappropriate behaviour in our workplace”.
Allegations made to the ICGS are private and confidential and political parties are not given information about who has been reported.
A union representing senior civil servants said more was needed to be done to stamp out harassment in Parliament.
FDA general secretary Dave Penman said: “Whilst some of the procedures for raising complaints have improved, the fundamental balance of power between MPs and the staff they employ has not.
“Where that exists it will inevitably be exploited, either by those who do not have the skills to manage staff effectively, or those with more malevolent intent.
“It can come as no surprise therefore that if the circumstances that allowed bullying and harassment to flourish have not changed fundamentally, what we are seeing is this number of complaints being raised now that we at least have an independent mechanism for dealing with them.
“Parliamentary authorities need to address the fundamental causes of bullying and harassment, rather than simply rely on an enforcement mechanism that only protects those who feel able to raise complaints.”
Mr Penman said that meant “looking again at the employment relationship between MPs and the staff”, with a view to reforming the model of having 650 individual employers.
He said authorities should instead consider establishing a new employment model that “will help protect staff whilst maintaining the level of service that MPs need to support their vital work”.
A Government spokesperson said: “We take all allegations of this nature incredibly seriously and would encourage anyone with any allegations to come forward to the relevant authorities.”
It comes after Imran Ahmad Khan quit as MP for Wakefield last week after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage boy before he was elected for the Conservative Party.
Meanwhile, David Warburton has had the Tory whip removed after an image was published which appeared to show the Somerton and Frome MP pictured alongside lines of a white substance.
Earlier this month, The Sunday Times reported that two women had made formal complaints to the ICGS about Mr Warburton’s behaviour and a third woman had also made allegations about his conduct.
Speaking on Sunday, Labour’s Tulip Siddiq said there needed to be a “zero tolerance” approach to alleged harassment by MPs.
Ms Siddiq, the shadow economic secretary to the Treasury, told Sky News' Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: “I’m also very upset about these allegations, that there is more stories coming out of MPs abusing their position for sexual favours or to manipulate staff or all the accusations that are coming out.
“I don’t care which party the MPs are from, there has to be an independent review, there has to be an independent panel that looks into this.
“If there are people from my party, there should be a zero tolerance to this. If there are people from Government, there should be a zero tolerance.
“We have to make Westminster more welcoming for female MPs but also staff members as well.”
