Theresa May to tackle allegations of Westminster misconduct
A lot of these MPs make or break your career. It definitely happened to me at the age of 21. Somebody lunged at me on a regular basis.
Prime Minster Theresa May has called for tougher rules to protect the staff of MPs in the wake of reports of abusive and inappropriate behaviour in Westminster.
In a letter to Commons Speaker John Bercow yesterday, the PM said the current disciplinary regime needed a drastic overhaul as it did not have the 'required teeth'.
On Sunday, The Mirror claimed that nine MPs and three ministers - plus a leading member of the Labour party have been accused of inappropriate behaviour. International Trade minister Mark Garnier is to be investigated over a possible breach of ministerial rules after he admitted to asking a former secretary to buy sex toys.
Over the weekend it also emerged that female staff at Westminster have been sharing stories of abuse via a Whatsapp group.
Ayesha Hazarika, former Labour advisor to Harriet Harman and Ed Miliband, admitted she had witnessed inappropriate behaviour as a 21 year old at the start of her career.
Ayesha said: "A lot of men at Westminster are away from their wives, it's a late-hours culture, there is a lot of subsidised booze and a lot of women in much more junior positions. Some men don't think what they are doing is wrong. They think it's a perk of the job."
Katie Perrior, former Downing Street Director of Communications, shared her thoughts on Theresa May's thinking, telling Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley: "If the Prime Minister found out there were any assaults going on she would not sit back. I've never witnessed a Prime Minster who would be willing to put up with that behaviour."
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