A Conservative frontbench MP watched porn on his phone while sitting next to a female minister in the House of Commons, the Mirror reports.
The incident, which happened in the last few months, was spoken about by the shocked minister at a meeting of Tory MP s last night. Around a dozen women MPs attending the meeting shared accounts of alleged sexism and harassment by their colleagues, according to three sources.
Conservative chief whip Chris Heaton-Harris is investigating the shocking report, his office has said. A statement from the whip's office said: "The chief whip is looking into this matter. This behaviour is wholly unacceptable and action will be taken.''
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The latest sexism storm comes after it was reported that that 56 MPs, including three Cabinet ministers, are facing allegations of sexual misconduct after being reported to Parliament's Independent Complaints and Grievance scheme. It also comes in the wake of Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner being accused of a 'Basic Instinct' ploy to distract Boris Johnson at Prime Minister's Questions.
The meeting of between 40 and 50 Tory MP s, known as the 2022 group, was attended by new chief whip Chris Heaton-Harris, Tory party chair Oliver Dowden and Commons leader Mark Spencer. Some male colleagues also attended, including one former minister who sources said asked the party bosses whether any Tory MPs found guilty by the Parliamentary probe would be kicked out of the party.
Several women MPs raised concerns that the toxic atmosphere within the party could put women off standing for Parliament. Sources in the room said that former PM Theresa May, who was present for some of the MPs' testimony, looked on “with a face like thunder”.
One MP said: “It was like a blood-letting. Everybody was sharing awful stories of what had happened to them in the Commons at the hands of male MPs. [The chief whip] clearly hadn’t been expecting it and looked knocked for six. But the big question is what happens next”.
Another added: "They were genuinely shocked and horrified. They must realise that there are serious issues they need to address".
