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| House of Commons abuse cases 'tolerated and concealed' | House of Commons abuse cases 'tolerated and concealed' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| "Disturbing" cases of bullying and sexual harassment have "long been tolerated and concealed" in the House of Commons, according to a report. | "Disturbing" cases of bullying and sexual harassment have "long been tolerated and concealed" in the House of Commons, according to a report. |
| Author Dame Laura Cox QC said there was a culture of "deference, subservience, acquiescence and silence". | |
| She said the procedures for protecting staff were inadequate and said "broad cultural change" was needed. | She said the procedures for protecting staff were inadequate and said "broad cultural change" was needed. |
| Speaker John Bercow's office said the claims were "serious" and should be considered "as a matter of urgency". | |
| The inquiry was commissioned following a BBC investigation earlier this year. | The inquiry was commissioned following a BBC investigation earlier this year. |
| Dame Laura described the House of Commons as a "stark reminder of how bad things used to be". | Dame Laura described the House of Commons as a "stark reminder of how bad things used to be". |
| In her report, she detailed alleged sexual harassment by MPs, saying women reported being abused in "vulgar, gender-related terms" and "repeatedly propositioned". | In her report, she detailed alleged sexual harassment by MPs, saying women reported being abused in "vulgar, gender-related terms" and "repeatedly propositioned". |
| "There were reports too of groups of male MPs becoming increasingly boorish on occasions when they were together, of frequent sexual innuendos, lewd comments or sexual gestures, or women repeatedly being asked questions about their sex lives, or about their personal lives generally, which they found offensive and humiliating," she added. | "There were reports too of groups of male MPs becoming increasingly boorish on occasions when they were together, of frequent sexual innuendos, lewd comments or sexual gestures, or women repeatedly being asked questions about their sex lives, or about their personal lives generally, which they found offensive and humiliating," she added. |
| While some managers had dealt effectively with complaints from women, Dame Laura said the majority received "evasive responses, in which either their reports were questioned...or belittled" or they were persuaded not to pursue a complaint. | While some managers had dealt effectively with complaints from women, Dame Laura said the majority received "evasive responses, in which either their reports were questioned...or belittled" or they were persuaded not to pursue a complaint. |
| Dame Laura, a former high court judge, was appointed in March after a Newsnight investigation uncovered complaints about a number of MPs, including Speaker John Bercow, allegations which he denies. | Dame Laura, a former high court judge, was appointed in March after a Newsnight investigation uncovered complaints about a number of MPs, including Speaker John Bercow, allegations which he denies. |
| A separate "review of of historic allegations" is also under way, and in July MPs backed a new grievance procedure and behaviour code. | A separate "review of of historic allegations" is also under way, and in July MPs backed a new grievance procedure and behaviour code. |
| But in her report, Dame Laura said it was "difficult to envisage" how solutions could be delivered under the current senior House administration. | But in her report, Dame Laura said it was "difficult to envisage" how solutions could be delivered under the current senior House administration. |
| She warned against "another series of initiatives and process changes". | She warned against "another series of initiatives and process changes". |
| 'Expectation of loyalty' | |
| Working in the Commons is seen as a "privilege" with an "expectation of loyalty to the institution they serve", she said. | Working in the Commons is seen as a "privilege" with an "expectation of loyalty to the institution they serve", 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. | "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. |
| "This is not to demonise the entire institution, but unacceptable behaviour by some, whether elected members or House staff, inflicts damage on everyone and undermines the legitimacy and authority of the House of Commons." | "This is not to demonise the entire institution, but unacceptable behaviour by some, whether elected members or House staff, inflicts damage on everyone and undermines the legitimacy and authority of the House of Commons." |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World at One, Dame Laura said Mr Bercow and other people in positions of leadership, such as the clerk of the House of Commons and the director general of the House of Commons, should read the report "very carefully". | |
| Senior figures, she said, needed to ask themselves "do I understand that radical change is needed, can I deliver that and will the staff have confidence that I can deliver that change? | |
| "If they can't answer yes honestly to those questions they should each of them be considering their position." | |
| A spokeswoman for Mr Bercow said it was "a serious report into a serious subject which deserves a serious response". | |
| She added: "The House of Commons Commission will meet as a matter of urgency in the coming days to consider the report and our response to it." | |
| A Commons spokesman said there was no place for bullying and harassment, adding that "the wellbeing of our people will always be our top priority". | A Commons spokesman said there was no place for bullying and harassment, adding that "the wellbeing of our people will always be our top priority". |
| Urgent work has already been undertaken, including new confidential support services and helplines, he said, adding that the inquiry's findings would be "taken into careful account". | Urgent work has already been undertaken, including new confidential support services and helplines, he said, adding that the inquiry's findings would be "taken into careful account". |