Watching porn in Parliament 'sackable offence', says Starmer as claim is referred for investigation
ITV News Deputy Political Editor Anushka Asthana reports on the mood in Westminster after it emerged that a Tory MP is being investigated for reportedly watching pornography in the Chamber
Watching porn in the House of Commons is a "disgusting" and "sackable" offence, Labour leader Keir Starmer has said.
On Wednesday, it emerged a Tory MP is being investigated over reports they watched pornography on their mobile phone while in the Commons chamber.
Asked what should happen to an MP found to have watched pornography in Parliament, Mr Starmer told ITV's Peston show: "Firstly I'm disturbed by these allegations, they've obviously got to be investigated.
"And if it's true that someone was watching porn sitting in the chamber, and I think the allegation is, I don't know for sure, that it's somebody on the front bench for the government that was implicated in this, then of course it's a sackable offence in my view."
The office of Conservative chief whip Chris Heaton-Harris said he is referring the matter to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme to be investigation.
“Following allegations of inappropriate behaviour in the House of Commons the Chief Whip has asked that this matter be referred to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme," a spokesperson for Mr Heaton-Harris said.
"Upon the conclusion of any ICGS investigation the Chief Whip will take appropriate action.”
Asked if the MP should still resign if he were a backbencher, Mr Starmer said: "It's disgusting, it's almost unbelievable.
"I think many jaws were on the floor this morning when this allegation came through that a Tory MP may have been engaged in this.
"It needs to be thoroughly investigated straight away and action needs to be taken. There's an individual issue here but there's a cultural issue as well.
"We need cultural change in the House of Commons, in Parliament, and culture change comes from the top, so the prime minister has to lead on this."
The investigation comes after the Mirror and the Sun reported the claims were aired during a meeting of Tory MPs in Westminster on Tuesday night.
According to the Mirror, Tuesday’s meeting was attended by between 40 and 50 Tory MPs, including Mr Heaton-Harris, Tory party chair Oliver Dowden and Commons Leader Mark Spencer.
Former prime minister Theresa May was also said to have attended.
It is understood the investigation centred on allegations a Conservative watched an adult video in the Commons chamber, but could not immediately establish whether the MP was a frontbencher.
The Tory meeting came amid reports that 56 MPs, including three Cabinet ministers, are reported to be facing allegations of sexual misconduct referred to the Independent Complaints and Grievances Scheme.
Following the reports, Green MP Caroline Lucas pressed Boris Johnson during Prime Minister's Questions on whether he "considers that sexual harassment - apparently unlike bullying and lying - is grounds for dismissal under the ministerial code".
The prime minister replied that "of course" it is, adding: "Sexual harassment is intolerable and it's quite right that members should now have a procedure by which they can bring that to the attention of the House authorities and I think that's a good thing."
It also follows outrage over the Mail On Sunday publishing “sexist” and disputed claims from anonymous Conservative MPs claiming Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner had tried to distract the prime minister in the Commons by "crossing and uncrossing her legs".
The PM and MPs from all sides of the House condemned the "misogyny" directed at Ms Rayner, who told ITV she was "crestfallen" to see the remarks in the "disgusting" article.
A defiant Ms Rayner said she doesn't need diversion techniques to debate the prime minister, but admitted she felt compelled to wear trousers for her appearance on ITV's Lorraine programme "because I feel like I'm being judged for what I wear, rather than what I'm saying to you and how I come across."
Mr Johnson threatened the MP behind the "intolerable" comments with "the terrors of the earth" if he ever finds out who they are.
Meanwhile, the editor of the Mail on Sunday, David Dillon, refused to attend a meeting with Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle stating that journalists should “not take instruction from officials of the House of Commons, however august they may be”.