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Sexual misconduct claims: PM seeks meeting with party leaders Tory ministers hit out at 'malicious' sexual abuse claims against MPs
(about 2 hours later)
Theresa May has written to fellow party leaders to seek a meeting on new measures to combat sexual abuse and harassment at Westminster, she has announced at prime minister’s questions. A Conservative minister has hit out at what he termed “false and malicious” allegations of sexual abuse being made against MPs, as Theresa May said she would meet fellow party leaders next week to seek ways to address the issue.
Dominic Raab, a junior justice minister tipped by some as a future Tory leader, revealed he had been named on an anonymously compiled list of supposed misdeeds by Conservative MPs as having been subject to an injunction over “inappropriate behaviour with a woman”.
This was completely untrue, Raab said in a statement on his website, warning that while it was vital to investigate cases of abuse and harassment, he feared a “media feeding frenzy” from the widely shared list, which names 40 MPs and ministers.
Any claims he had harassed anyone or engaged in sexually abusive or lewd behaviour “is false and malicious”, Raab said, adding that he had taken legal advice.
Claims of misdeeds of the sort chronicled on the list “need to be taken seriously”, he said.
“At the same time, for anonymous individuals to compile and publish, or allow to be published, a list of vague, unsubstantiated and – in my case – false allegations is wrong.
“It is also a form of harassment and intimidation, although of course I am not suggesting it is the same or equivalent. Still, accountability should mean properly investigating any reports of abuse, without irresponsibly smearing those who have done nothing wrong.”
Another junior minister named in the anonymous list also vehemently denied the claims made about him.
The list alleges Rory Stewart, whose role takes in both the Foreign Office and Department for International Development, asked his parliamentary researcher “to do odd things”, naming the researcher as Sophie Bolsover.
In a statement, Bolsover, who no longer works for the MP, rejected this: “During my time working in parliament, Rory Stewart was never anything other than completely professional and an excellent employer”.
Stewart said the appearance of his name of the list had been “deeply hurtful”. He said: “This story is completely untrue and deeply hurtful. Neither of us have any idea how our names appeared on the list.”
Raab and Stewart’s statements came after May told prime minister’s questions she had written to other party leaders to seek a meeting on new measures to combat sexual abuse and harassment at Westminster.
Speaking after ordering an investigation into allegations that her deputy, Damian Green, made inappropriate advances to a female activist – which he denies – May said the wider reporting of sexual misconduct “demands a response”.Speaking after ordering an investigation into allegations that her deputy, Damian Green, made inappropriate advances to a female activist – which he denies – May said the wider reporting of sexual misconduct “demands a response”.
The prime minister said she had invited other party leaders to a meeting early next week. Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, and Ian Blackford, the SNP’s Westminster head, both said they were happy to attend.The prime minister said she had invited other party leaders to a meeting early next week. Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, and Ian Blackford, the SNP’s Westminster head, both said they were happy to attend.
Speaking at the start of PMQs with Green sitting in his usual place near her on the frontbench, May said: “Mr Speaker, members on both sides of the house have been deeply concerned about allegations of harassment and mistreatment here in Westminster.”Speaking at the start of PMQs with Green sitting in his usual place near her on the frontbench, May said: “Mr Speaker, members on both sides of the house have been deeply concerned about allegations of harassment and mistreatment here in Westminster.”
The leader of the Commons, Andrea Leadsom, had been in talks with other parties, May said.The leader of the Commons, Andrea Leadsom, had been in talks with other parties, May said.
“It demands a response and that is why my right honourable friend the leader of the house has been meeting with her counterparts and we are hopeful that all sides can work together quickly to resolve this.
“I’ve written to all party leaders inviting them to a meeting early next week so we can discuss a common, transparent independent grievance procedure for all those working in parliament. We have a duty to ensure that everyone coming here to contribute to public life is treated with respect.”“I’ve written to all party leaders inviting them to a meeting early next week so we can discuss a common, transparent independent grievance procedure for all those working in parliament. We have a duty to ensure that everyone coming here to contribute to public life is treated with respect.”
Before he began his questions to May, which concerned tax avoidance rather than sexual abuse, Corbyn said he would work with the PM on the issue.Before he began his questions to May, which concerned tax avoidance rather than sexual abuse, Corbyn said he would work with the PM on the issue.
“On the question of the sex harassment allegations that the prime minister quite rightly referred to, just to put on the record I am happy to meet with the prime minister and all party leaders to discuss this,” he said.“On the question of the sex harassment allegations that the prime minister quite rightly referred to, just to put on the record I am happy to meet with the prime minister and all party leaders to discuss this,” he said.
“We need better protections for all in this house. This house must involve workplace trade unions in that. But it’s also incumbent on all parties to have robust procedures in place to protect and support victims of sexual abuse and harassment.”“We need better protections for all in this house. This house must involve workplace trade unions in that. But it’s also incumbent on all parties to have robust procedures in place to protect and support victims of sexual abuse and harassment.”
Blackford also said the SNP would participate: “Can I associate myself with the remarks made by the prime minister when she talked about the zero tolerance that there has to be for bad sexual practices and behaviour. Blackford also said the SNP would “work with the government to make sure that we can have a system that we can be proud of that will protect all members of the houses of parliament”.
“And I certainly commit my members to work with the government to make sure that we can have a system that we can be proud of that will protect all members of the houses of parliament.” Later during PMQs May was asked by Labour backbencher Lisa Nandy about concerns that the Conservative whips office had stockpiled reports of potentially criminal behaviour by MPs to pressure them into loyalty.
The exchanges came amid a series of allegations connected to MPs and ministers, the majority of them so far unverified. “Can I say to her her that three years ago I brought evidence to her in this house that whips had used information about sexual abuse to demand loyalty from MPs,” Nandy said.
“I brought this information to her in this house and I warned her at the time that unless real action was taken we risked repeating those injustices again today. On three occasions I asked her to act and on three occasions she did not.”
Nandy was referring to claims made by a former Tory whip in the 1990s that during the early 1970s the Edward Heath government covered up scandals involving child abuse to pressure MPs.
May replied: “I will say to her that I am very clear that the whips office – I hope this goes for all whips offices across this house – should make clear to people that where there are any sexual abuse allegations that could be of a criminal nature, people should go to the police.”
The claims about Green come from Kate Maltby, who is 30 years younger than him.The claims about Green come from Kate Maltby, who is 30 years younger than him.
She told the Times Green had “fleetingly” touched her knee during a meeting in a Waterloo pub in 2015 and sent her a “suggestive” text message after she was pictured wearing a corset in the newspaper.She told the Times Green had “fleetingly” touched her knee during a meeting in a Waterloo pub in 2015 and sent her a “suggestive” text message after she was pictured wearing a corset in the newspaper.
Green, one of May’s closest political allies, said any allegation that he made sexual advances to Maltby was “untrue [and] deeply hurtful”.Green, one of May’s closest political allies, said any allegation that he made sexual advances to Maltby was “untrue [and] deeply hurtful”.
One Tory MP, Anna Soubry, has called for Green to be suspended while the allegations are investigated. Labour have questioned whether Green – who is among other roles the minister for the Cabinet Office – should be investigated by the cabinet secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood.
“I think there’s clear questions about that, about whether that’s an effective procedure to deal with these allegations in this case,” a spokesman for Corbyn said.
Labour has launched an independent inquiry into claims that the activist Bex Bailey was discouraged by a party official from reporting an alleged rape at a Labour event in 2011 on the grounds it might damage her political career.Labour has launched an independent inquiry into claims that the activist Bex Bailey was discouraged by a party official from reporting an alleged rape at a Labour event in 2011 on the grounds it might damage her political career.
And in a separate case, a woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by an MP on a foreign work trip last year has said her allegations were not taken seriously.