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| I admired Britain's political culture. I had no idea bullying was routine | I admired Britain's political culture. I had no idea bullying was routine |
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| In September 2015, a young Conservative political activist named Elliott Johnson took his own life. In a letter found after his death, Johnson made allegations of bullying against the former Conservative parliamentary candidate, Mark Clarke, and others within the party (Clarke strongly denies these allegations). Sadly the culture of politics can be toxic, and many people continue to be harmed by it. One would hope that Johnson’s case would have changed the bullying and harassment across politics, but this pattern of behaviour is enabled, practiced and sometimes encouraged by politicians. Politics has normalised this culture. This has to change if we want people, particularly young people, to have faith in politics and Westminster. | In September 2015, a young Conservative political activist named Elliott Johnson took his own life. In a letter found after his death, Johnson made allegations of bullying against the former Conservative parliamentary candidate, Mark Clarke, and others within the party (Clarke strongly denies these allegations). Sadly the culture of politics can be toxic, and many people continue to be harmed by it. One would hope that Johnson’s case would have changed the bullying and harassment across politics, but this pattern of behaviour is enabled, practiced and sometimes encouraged by politicians. Politics has normalised this culture. This has to change if we want people, particularly young people, to have faith in politics and Westminster. |
| Response to Westminster bullying report a disgrace, says ex-minister | Response to Westminster bullying report a disgrace, says ex-minister |
| I came to Britain when I was 19 from Iran to study British politics because I believed this country had a better political culture and was an example to the rest of the world. I joined the Labour party in 2012, and since then have been politically active. I worked for the party briefly during the 2017 general election, but I and many others around me were subject to bullying and harassment in the party – and it appears that those in power are still failing to address these issues. | I came to Britain when I was 19 from Iran to study British politics because I believed this country had a better political culture and was an example to the rest of the world. I joined the Labour party in 2012, and since then have been politically active. I worked for the party briefly during the 2017 general election, but I and many others around me were subject to bullying and harassment in the party – and it appears that those in power are still failing to address these issues. |
| Politics should be setting an example, but it is not. John Bercow is still Speaker of the House of Commons, even after Laura Cox’s damning report on Westminster harassment, and despite repeated calls by the MP Maria Miller and others who have made allegations against him to stand down – Bercow has repeatedly denied these claims. | Politics should be setting an example, but it is not. John Bercow is still Speaker of the House of Commons, even after Laura Cox’s damning report on Westminster harassment, and despite repeated calls by the MP Maria Miller and others who have made allegations against him to stand down – Bercow has repeatedly denied these claims. |
| Right now there are a number peers and MPs who continue to sit in Westminster, despite having faced claims of harassment and in some instances, sexual assault. There have been internal party investigations, sackings, resignations, suspensions, apologies, denials – and yet, several of these men are still attending parliament to vote, while some remain welcomed within their parties. | Right now there are a number peers and MPs who continue to sit in Westminster, despite having faced claims of harassment and in some instances, sexual assault. There have been internal party investigations, sackings, resignations, suspensions, apologies, denials – and yet, several of these men are still attending parliament to vote, while some remain welcomed within their parties. |
| Too often politicians exploit current affairs as an excuse to not punish outrageous behaviour. Jeremy Corbyn’s self-preservation instincts kicked in during the summer of 2016, leading him to promote ally Kelvin Hopkins to the shadow cabinet despite full knowledge of my complaint against him (Hopkins has denied any inappropriate behaviour). It was a selfish and outrageous act by the Labour leader. Likewise, the chair of the women and equalities select committee, Maria Miller, was absolutely right to state this week that the recommendations of the Cox report should be implemented, and that Bercow must immediately resign – and that he shouldn’t be allowed to just carry on because of Brexit. | Too often politicians exploit current affairs as an excuse to not punish outrageous behaviour. Jeremy Corbyn’s self-preservation instincts kicked in during the summer of 2016, leading him to promote ally Kelvin Hopkins to the shadow cabinet despite full knowledge of my complaint against him (Hopkins has denied any inappropriate behaviour). It was a selfish and outrageous act by the Labour leader. Likewise, the chair of the women and equalities select committee, Maria Miller, was absolutely right to state this week that the recommendations of the Cox report should be implemented, and that Bercow must immediately resign – and that he shouldn’t be allowed to just carry on because of Brexit. |
| Westminster MPs treated staff like servants, inquiry finds | Westminster MPs treated staff like servants, inquiry finds |
| It is these actions by leading politicians that signal to the rest of the political community that it is OK to behave like this. I have witnessed at first hand, within my own sphere of the Young Fabians, some leading members behaving in deplorable ways towards others. One member told me of becoming suicidal because of these actions. Another member I spoke to claimed to have been threatened with “severe consequences” for not supporting a member of the executive politically. I informed the organisation of these allegations at their annual general meeting in November, and an investigation is pending. I know of many who have left the Young Fabians or the Labour party because of such bullying. | It is these actions by leading politicians that signal to the rest of the political community that it is OK to behave like this. I have witnessed at first hand, within my own sphere of the Young Fabians, some leading members behaving in deplorable ways towards others. One member told me of becoming suicidal because of these actions. Another member I spoke to claimed to have been threatened with “severe consequences” for not supporting a member of the executive politically. I informed the organisation of these allegations at their annual general meeting in November, and an investigation is pending. I know of many who have left the Young Fabians or the Labour party because of such bullying. |
| The behaviour in politics is grown so far removed from what is acceptable in wider society, it’s no wonder the public is disengaged with it. The stellar work of Andrea Leadsom in the Conservatives and Jess Phillips within Labour has allowed for substantial and important policy changes to occur. However, in order for real progress to take place we need to see a new culture emerge: that means encouraging a new generation of compassionate politicians to get involved and change the rules of politics for the better, and hopefully for ever. | The behaviour in politics is grown so far removed from what is acceptable in wider society, it’s no wonder the public is disengaged with it. The stellar work of Andrea Leadsom in the Conservatives and Jess Phillips within Labour has allowed for substantial and important policy changes to occur. However, in order for real progress to take place we need to see a new culture emerge: that means encouraging a new generation of compassionate politicians to get involved and change the rules of politics for the better, and hopefully for ever. |
| • Ava Etemadzadeh is on the Young Fabians national executive | • Ava Etemadzadeh is on the Young Fabians national executive |
| House of Commons | House of Commons |
| Opinion | Opinion |
| Bullying | Bullying |
| Conservatives | Conservatives |
| Labour | Labour |
| Sexual harassment | Sexual harassment |
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