Westminster abuse scandal: Watchdog 'must have more powers' to investigate MPs accused of bullying and harassment

Dame Laura Cox's report revealed more than 200 parliamentary staffers claimed to have been groped and propositioned by male MPs

(Alamy)

Parliament’s watchdog must be given greater powers to probe historic bullying and harassment claims against MPs after a damning report lifted the lid on the “urgent and serious problem” with abuse in Westminster.

The probe, led by former high court judge Dame Laura Cox, revealed allegations from more than 200 parliamentary staffers, who said they had been groped and propositioned by male MPs amid a culture of “deference, subservience, acquiescence and silence”.

Westminster was rocked by a wave of allegations of sexual harassment last year, which highlighted weaknesses with Commons reporting procedures and the problem of politicians running their offices like small businesses, making it difficult for employees to seek recourse.

The Committee on Standards has now proposed a string of reforms to end the “unacceptable encroachment” on the independence of Kathryn Stone, the parliamentary commissioner for standards.

The cross-party committee, made up of seven MPs and seven lay members, said the watchdog should be able to launch historic inquiries and probe the conduct of former MPs without having to ask permission, as she is currently required to do.

Non-political members of the committee should also be given equal voting rights with MPs, the committee said, in an attempt to address complaints that the system lacked independence.

The committee itself has come under fire after it voted against allowing the commissioner to investigate historic allegations against John Bercow. The Commons speaker denies claims that he bullied former private secretaries Angus Sinclair and Kate Emms.

Its latest report acknowledged it “deeply regrets what has gone wrong” over bullying and harassment in the Commons, adding: “(We) commit ourselves to contributing to putting things right.”

Labour MP Kate Green, who chairs the committee, said: “It is vital that trust in the process is rebuilt, following the criticisms in Dame Laura Cox’s report.

“Whilst there is clearly much more to be done, our recommendations will make an important step forward towards a fairer, more independent and credible system.

“The Standards Committee is unique in having an equal number of MPs and lay members on it, and these proposals will ensure that the skills and expertise of the lay members can help to hold MPs to account in the most effective way.”

However the civil servants union the FDA said the move did not go far enough as it was still “MPs marking their own homework”.

Amy Leversidge, assistant general secretary of the FDA, said: “But this isn’t what Dame Laura Cox recommended – she recommended full independence, not just giving lay members a vote on the Standards Committee.

“Whatever the committee wants to tell itself this is still MPs marking their own homework.”

Commons leader Andrea Leadsom welcomed the report, adding: "I remain determined to tackle all forms of bullying and harassment in Westminster, and to rebuild trust in the system. The new Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) is only the first step in doing this.

"I will study the recommendations of the Committee and consider next steps, as we work towards our ICGS six month review."

The Independent previously revealed that Ms Leadsom had launched a second inquiry into complaints from aides employed directly by politicians, which is expected to attract hundreds of allegations from past and present staff.

It comes after more than 80 former and current parliamentary staff signed an unprecedented letter demanding a complete overhaul of Commons procedures to curb the persistent abuse.

One former staffer, Lisette Whittaker, said “nothing was done” when she was attacked by an unnamed politician, who stalked her for years without being punished.

Ms Whittaker, who has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, said she endured constant harassment from when she started working for the European Scrutiny Committee in 1993 when she was 19.

One in five people working in Westminster experienced sexual harassment in the last 12 months, The Independent also revealed, after the release of a survey commissioned by Ms Leadsom of all staff in parliament.

Former defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon was forced to resign amid allegations of sexual misconduct, while several Labour and Tory MPs faced investigations by their parties.