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House of Commons abuse cases 'tolerated and concealed' Commons staff told to study abuse report 'very carefully'
(35 minutes later)
"Disturbing" cases of bullying and sexual harassment have "long been tolerated and concealed" in the House of Commons, according to a report. Senior House of Commons staff have been told to study "very carefully" a report into bullying and sexual harassment cases, by its author Dame Laura Cox QC.
Author Dame Laura Cox QC said there was a culture of "deference, subservience, acquiescence and silence". "Disturbing" cases have "long been tolerated and concealed", it says.
She said the procedures for protecting staff were inadequate and said "broad cultural change" was needed. Dame Laura said there was a culture of "deference, subservience, acquiescence and silence" and that "broad cultural change" was needed.
Speaker John Bercow's office said the claims were "serious" and should be considered "as a matter of urgency".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. Dame Laura, a former high court judge, was appointed in March after a Newsnight investigation uncovered complaints about a number of MPs, including Mr Bercow - allegations which he denies.
BBC Newsnight policy editor, Chris Cook, called the report an uncompromising "thunderbolt".
'Acutely distressing'
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".
There were reports of "inappropriate touching", including men "trying to kiss them, grabbing their arms or bottoms or stroking their breasts or bottoms".
According to the report, other allegations of behaviour reported by members of staff included:
Staff reported being told off for using the "wrong" toilet or being being told to "get out of the lift now" because MPs wanted to use it.
The effect of the alleged behaviour on some staff had been "acutely distressing, long-lasting and, in some cases, devastating".
One staff member told the review: "I felt physically sick….I would find myself crying in the toilets, I wasn't able to eat or sleep properly."
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".
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".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?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.""If they can't answer yes honestly to those questions they should each of them be considering their position."
'Not a surprise''Not a surprise'
A spokeswoman for Mr Bercow said it was "a serious report into a serious subject which deserves a serious response".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."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."
Labour MP Jess Phillips told BBC News that the report's findings were "not a surprise" to her and she was "deeply saddened". Labour MP Jess Phillips told BBC News that the report's findings were "not a surprise" to her.
"I have seen sexism and sexist attitudes," she said. "But people aren't going to pick on me because I'm not powerless."I have seen sexism and sexist attitudes," she said. "But people aren't going to pick on me because I'm not powerless.
"What we are talking about is a power imbalance.""What we are talking about is a power imbalance."
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".
There were reports of "inappropriate touching", including men "trying to kiss them, grabbing their arms or bottoms or stroking their breasts or bottoms", she said.
According to the report, other allegations of behaviour reported by members of staff included:
Staff reported being told off for using the "wrong" toilet or being being told aggressively to "get out of the lift now" because some MPs wanted to use it.
The effect of the alleged behaviour on some people had been "acutely distressing, long-lasting and, in some cases, devastating", the report said.
One staff member told the review: "I felt physically sick….I would find myself crying in the toilets, I wasn't able to eat or sleep properly and I began to feel consistently unwell."
Dame Laura said there were reports of groups of male MPs "becoming increasingly boorish on occasions when they were together".
There were "frequent sexual innuendos, lewd comments or sexual gestures" and women were "repeatedly being asked questions about their sex lives, or about their personal lives generally, which they found offensive and humiliating", she said.
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.
AnalysisAnalysis
By Chris Cook, BBC Newsnight policy editorBy Chris Cook, BBC Newsnight policy editor
Dame Laura was commissioned to conduct an independent investigation. She delivered a thunderbolt.Dame Laura was commissioned to conduct an independent investigation. She delivered a thunderbolt.
This report, a response to the reports that Lucinda Day and I published in March, is uncompromising.This report, a response to the reports that Lucinda Day and I published in March, is uncompromising.
If the House management commissioned it thinking that she would find that Newsnight had over-egged the problem, they will be sorely disappointed.If the House management commissioned it thinking that she would find that Newsnight had over-egged the problem, they will be sorely disappointed.
She looked, as we did, at the treatment of the clerks - the apolitical staff who run the Commons and its committees.She looked, as we did, at the treatment of the clerks - the apolitical staff who run the Commons and its committees.
And she found, as we did, remarkable consistency in the accounts given by staff members about the problems in the House with bullying and harassment.And she found, as we did, remarkable consistency in the accounts given by staff members about the problems in the House with bullying and harassment.
There are some major conclusions she draws from her analysis of this dysfunctional workplace.There are some major conclusions she draws from her analysis of this dysfunctional workplace.
She calls for a huge amount of change - after all, her analysis is that this is "a culture that has actively sought to cover up such abusive conduct".She calls for a huge amount of change - after all, her analysis is that this is "a culture that has actively sought to cover up such abusive conduct".
Read more from Chris CookRead more from Chris Cook
A separate "review of of historical allegations" is also under way, and in July MPs backed a new grievance procedure and behaviour code.A separate "review of of historical 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 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' A Commons spokesman said there was no place for bullying and harassment, adding that staff's wellbeing "will always be our top priority".
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.
"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."
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".