This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/oct/15/house-of-commons-culture-enabled-bullying-and-sexual-harassment-inquiry

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
House of Commons culture of bullying and harassment starts with senior officials – inquiry House of Commons culture of bullying and harassment starts with senior officials – inquiry
(35 minutes later)
Parliament’s culture of bullying and harassment will not change until the departure of senior House of Commons officials, a damning inquiry commissioned in the wake of bullying allegations against the Speaker, John Bercow, has claimed. Parliament’s culture of bullying and harassment will not change without the departure of senior House of Commons officials, an inquiry has claimed.
The independent report by Dame Laura Cox said there was a tradition of “deference and silence” that “actively sought to cover up abusive conduct” and gave no protection to those reporting bullying or sexual harassment.The independent report by Dame Laura Cox said there was a tradition of “deference and silence” that “actively sought to cover up abusive conduct” and gave no protection to those reporting bullying or sexual harassment.
Cox, a QC who served as a judge until she retired in 2016, was not tasked with responding to individual complaints, including those against Bercow, which he denies. Cox, a QC who served as a judge until she retired in 2016, was not tasked with responding to individual complaints, including those against the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, which he denies.
However, she concluded “the levers of change are regarded as part of the change that is needed” and that individuals should consider their positions. However, she concluded “the levers of change are regarded as part of the change that is needed” and individuals should consider their positions.
“When reading this report some people may privately recognise their own behaviours in some of the alleged abusive conduct I have described,” she said. “I would hope that a process of reflection leads them to consider what, if anything, they should now do in the best interests of the House.” “When reading this report, some people may privately recognise their own behaviours in some of the alleged abusive conduct I have described,” she said. “I would hope that a process of reflection leads them to consider what, if anything, they should now do in the best interests of the house.”
In the 155-page report, Cox quoted several anonymous contributors who said it would take “several generations” for meaningful change to be enacted.In the 155-page report, Cox quoted several anonymous contributors who said it would take “several generations” for meaningful change to be enacted.
“On this basis, I find it difficult to envisage how the necessary changes can be successfully delivered, and the confidence of the staff restored, under the current senior House administration,” she said. “On this basis, I find it difficult to envisage how the necessary changes can be successfully delivered, and the confidence of the staff restored, under the current senior house administration,” she said.
She said the terms of reference of the report, which have been criticised by the civil service trade union, made her unable to name the individuals against whom “serious allegations of abusive conduct” had been made, sometimes by multiple complainants. She said the terms of reference of the inquiry – commissioned in the aftermath of bullying allegations against Bercow – which have been criticised by the civil service trade union, made her unable to name the individuals against whom “serious allegations of abusive conduct” had been made, sometimes by multiple complainants.
There were a number of individuals who were “regarded as bearing some personal responsibility for the criticisms made” of the workplace culture, she added.There were a number of individuals who were “regarded as bearing some personal responsibility for the criticisms made” of the workplace culture, she added.
Cox said their “continued presence is viewed as unlikely to facilitate the necessary changes” but said it would be wrong of her to name those people. Cox said their “continued presence is viewed as unlikely to facilitate the necessary changes” but it would be wrong of her to name the individuals.
However, she said her definition of senior leadership included the Speaker’s office, the clerk of the House, the director general, the executive board and House of Commons commission. However, she said her definition of senior leadership included the Speaker’s office, the clerk of the house, the director general, the executive board and House of Commons commission.
“Some individuals will want to think very carefully about whether they are the right people to press the reset button and to do what is required to deliver that change in the best interests of the House, having regard both to its reputation and its role as an employer of those who are rightly regarded as its most important resource.” “Some individuals will want to think very carefully about whether they are the right people to press the reset button and to do what is required to deliver that change in the best interests of the house, having regard both to its reputation and its role as an employer of those who are rightly regarded as its most important resource,” Cox said.
The report also said the “collective reputation” of MPs was being damaged by the allegations against a small number. “I have no doubt that they will regard this as intolerable,” Cox said, urging MPs to give “active support” to efforts to change the system. The report also said the “collective reputation” of MPs was being damaged by the allegations against a small number of people. “I have no doubt that they will regard this as intolerable,” Cox said, urging MPs to give “active support” to efforts to change the system.
As well as bullying allegations, Cox said she had found disturbing reports of sexual harassment by current and former MPs towards female staff, including:As well as bullying allegations, Cox said she had found disturbing reports of sexual harassment by current and former MPs towards female staff, including:
Comments about their appearance, their dress or their “physical attributes”. Comments about their appearance, clothing or “physical attributes”.
Being the butt of jokes between MPs, in their presence and often in front of others.Being the butt of jokes between MPs, in their presence and often in front of others.
Frequent inappropriate touching, including men patting women’s heads, putting their arms around women, leaving a hand on their knee for an uncomfortably long time, trying to kiss them, grabbing their arms or bottoms or stroking their breasts or bottoms. Frequent inappropriate touching, including men patting women’s heads, putting their arms around women, leaving a hand on their knee for an uncomfortably long time, trying to kiss them, grabbing their arms or bottoms, or stroking their breasts or bottoms.
Women being abused in vulgar, gender-related terms if they failed to do something that had been requested.Women being abused in vulgar, gender-related terms if they failed to do something that had been requested.
Women being repeatedly propositioned; and similar allegations from some men.Women being repeatedly propositioned; and similar allegations from some men.
Comments about their appearance, their dress or their “physical attributes”. Comments about their appearance, clothing or “physical attributes”.
Being the butt of jokes between MPs, in their presence and often in front of others.Being the butt of jokes between MPs, in their presence and often in front of others.
Frequent inappropriate touching, including men patting women’s heads, putting their arms around women, leaving a hand on their knee for an uncomfortably long time, trying to kiss them, grabbing their arms or bottoms or stroking their breasts or bottoms. Frequent inappropriate touching, including men patting women’s heads, putting their arms around women, leaving a hand on their knee for an uncomfortably long time, trying to kiss them, grabbing their arms or bottoms, or stroking their breasts or bottoms.
Women being abused in vulgar, gender-related terms if they failed to do something that had been requested.Women being abused in vulgar, gender-related terms if they failed to do something that had been requested.
Women being repeatedly propositioned; and similar allegations from some men.Women being repeatedly propositioned; and similar allegations from some men.
Cox recommended the new independent complaints and grievance scheme should be amended to ensure employees with historical complaints can access the scheme and that MPs should play no part in determining complaints of bullying, harassment or sexual harassment brought by House staff against other MPs. Cox recommended the new independent complaints and grievance scheme be amended to ensure employees with historical complaints can access it and MPs should play no part in determining complaints of bullying, harassment or sexual harassment brought by house staff against other MPs.
The former judge said many of the complaints she had heard during the course of her inquiry were “disturbing” and that staff “were not people set on revenge or out to malign either individuals or the reputation of the House itself”. The former judge said many of the complaints she had heard during the course of her inquiry were “disturbing” and staff “were not people set on revenge or out to malign either individuals or the reputation of the house itself”.
Among current and former staff there was “an obvious pride and affection for the House and its status”, she said. “But that sense of loyalty has been tested to breaking point by a culture, cascading from the top down, of deference, subservience, acquiescence and silence, in which bullying, harassment and sexual harassment have been able to thrive and have long been tolerated and concealed.” Among current and former staff there was “an obvious pride and affection for the house and its status”, she said.
In her report, Cox also criticised the decision by a House of Commons working group to implement a new code of conduct without waiting for the outcome of her inquiry. She said the 2014 respect policy, on which the new complaints procedure was based, was discredited and distrusted. “But that sense of loyalty has been tested to breaking point by a culture, cascading from the top down, of deference, subservience, acquiescence and silence, in which bullying, harassment and sexual harassment have been able to thrive and have long been tolerated and concealed.”
Cox said the volume of submissions to her inquiry meant there was no chance that she would conclude in time for the new complaints procedure to be introduced in June. She said the decision to press on with the new procedure regardless of her report was “most unfortunate” and was an “unhappy beginning to that process”. In the report, Cox also criticised the decision by a Commons working group to implement a new code of conduct without waiting for the outcome of her inquiry. She said the 2014 respect policy, on which the new complaints procedure was based, was discredited and distrusted.
“It is more important to get it right than to get it done in haste, in accordance with self-imposed deadlines,” she said. The new procedure is set to be reviewed in January 2019. Cox said the volume of submissions to her inquiry meant there was no chance she would conclude in time for the complaints procedure to be introduced in June 2019. She said the decision to press on with it regardless was “most unfortunate” and an “unhappy beginning to that process”.
The investigation was announced by Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the Commons, in March to examine the nature and extent of bullying and harassment in parliament, including how complaints have been handled, and how procedures can be improved. Staff and former staff were invited to submit their experiences confidentially in person or in writing. “It is more important to get it right than to get it done in haste, in accordance with self-imposed deadlines,” she said. The procedure is to be reviewed in January 2019.
The investigation was prompted by a BBC Newsnight investigation into bullying claims made against Bercow. Bercow has emphatically denied allegations that he bullied his former private secretaries Angus Sinclair and Kate Emms. The investigation was announced by Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the Commons, in March to examine the nature and extent of bullying and harassment in parliament, including how complaints have been handled.
Sinclair told BBC’s Newsnight that Bercow undermined him in front of other staff, shouted, swore and attempted to physically intimidate him. The investigation was prompted by a BBC Newsnight investigation into bullying claims made against Bercow, who has emphatically denied allegations that he bullied his former private secretaries Angus Sinclair and Kate Emms.
His successor, Emms, served as Bercow’s private secretary from May 2010 to February 2011. Newsnight reported Bercow frequently shouted at her and she was subsequently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. David Leakey, who stepped down last year as Black Rod, told Newsnight he had experienced the outbursts of temper described by other former members of Bercow’s staff.
David Leakey, who stepped down last year as Black Rod, a ceremonial post in parliament, told Newsnight he had experienced the outbursts of temper described by other former members of Bercow’s staff. There was no immediate response from Downing Street or any of the major political parties. A Commons spokesperson said staff wellbeing was “a top priority” and it would take the findings into “careful account”, but made no commitment to further changes.
Bercow, who has been Speaker since 2009, said before he took the post he would resign after no longer than nine years, meaning 22 June of this year would be his departure date. However, he has signalled he may stay in the post for another year, after he was re-elected in 2017 due to the snap election. “Urgent work has already been undertaken to improve internal processes – including the introduction of new confidential support services and helplines run by external, independent specialist providers and a clear pathway for the investigation of allegations,” they said.
There was no immediate response from Downing Street or any of the major political parties. A House of Commons spokesperson said that staff wellbeing was “a top priority” and said it would take the findings into “careful account” but made no commitment to further changes. FDA, the civil servants’ union, praised the report’s conclusions, particularly the recommendation that historical cases be taken into account.
“Urgent work has already been undertaken to improve internal processes – including the introduction of new confidential support services and helplines run by external, independent specialist providers and a clear pathway for the investigation of allegations,” a spokesperson said. “These are not the first stories of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment. Urgent action is required to ensure that they are the last,” said Amy Leversidge, its assistant general secretary.
FDA, the civil service union, praised the report’s conclusions, particularly the recommendation that historical cases be taken into account.
“These are not the first stories of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment. Urgent action is required to ensure that they are the last,” said Amy Leversidge, assistant general secretary of the FDA.
House of CommonsHouse of Commons
BullyingBullying
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content