Theresa May Urges Westminster Staff to Come Forward About Sexual Harassment

LONDON:
Theresa May has urged MPs and researchers working in Westminster to come forward about sexual harassment or assault in parliament after reports emerged of allegations on a WhatsApp group.
The prime minister’s spokeswoman said reports of a WhatsApp group where female staff and researchers in Westminster shared information about MPs and ministers who have behaved inappropriately were “deeply concerning”.
“Any reports of sexual harassment are deeply concerning. The prime minister was very clear that any unwanted sexual behaviour is completely unacceptable in any walk of life including politics,” the spokeswoman said. The WhatsApp group of staffers is reported by the Sun newspaper to have named senior politicians they did not feel safe around.
No 10 said parties and House of Commons authorities must take any formal complaints seriously. “Any allegations that may come to light will be taken extremely seriously and we would advise people to contact the police if there is such an allegation, so it can be fully investigated,” the spokeswoman said.
“All parties, all employers in any walk of life, must take this seriously and make sure their staff are protected or looked after. No industry is immune from this, including politics.” Asked if she was concerned staff who are employed by an MP directly may not feel they have a channel to complain about inappropriate behaviour, May’s spokeswoman said: “Anyone working for an MP in a party can approach the party, and if it’s a serious allegation they should go to the police.”
The spokeswoman said the prime minister would consider all necessary action if a serious allegation was made about a member of the government.
“No reports have been formally made yet and we’ll address that then if that happens.” Parliament launched a confidential hotline for staff to report incidents of harassment and bullying in 2014, after a series of complaints about Westminster’s working environment by current and former employees of MPs.
Concerns have been raised in the past over the fact that MPs employ their staff directly, in Westminster and in their constituencies. Although the MPs are paid with public funds, there is no HR system for those employees to access should they be concerned about the MP’s behaviour towards them, with no grievance procedure other than approaching their party’s headquarters or whips.
Women in Westminster are believed to have been prompted to share information after allegations of sexual assault and rape against the Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The allegations against Weinstein prompted a viral social media #MeToo campaign which saw women from all industries and walks of life post their experience of sexual harassment and abuse.