The public are to be asked for their views on a behaviour code for those working in parliament drawn up after allegations of bullying and harassment, the group leading the process has said.
The cross-party group led by the leader of the Commons, Andrea Leadsom, drafted a report including an initial version of the code, containing seven principles including respecting everyone working at parliament, challenging unacceptable behaviour and seeking a supportive culture.
The public will be invited to have their say on the proposals this month, with the final version in place later this year.
The working group was put together after a series of allegations of harassment and abuse of staff in parliament late last year.
In recent days, allegations of bullying have also been levelled against the Speaker of the Commons, John Bercow, which he has vehemently denied.
Key recommendation of the cross-party group
- All those who work in the Houses of Parliament should be subject to a new behaviour code.
- Complaints and grievance should be handled by a new system independent of political parties.
- Under the proposed system complaints would spark a confidential inquiry by the parliamentary commissioner for standards.
- Sexual harassment and sexual violence should be dealt with by a trained “sexual violence adviser” in a procedure separate from complaints about other forms of inappropriate behaviour.
- Complaints would be dealt with confidentially to protect the alleged victims’ anonymity. If allegations were proved, perpetrators would be identified and subject to tougher sanctions.
- On receiving the commissioner’s report, standards committees in the Commons and Lords would be able to recommend the suspension of an MP or peer for a specified period.
- This could trigger proceedings for recall of an MP – resulting in a new election in their constituency – or the expulsion of a peer.
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His former private secretary Angus Sinclair told BBC2’s Newsnight on Tuesday that the Speaker was prone to “over-the-top anger”, adding he was “not sure he was completely in control of it”.
Sinclair claimed Bercow had undermined him in front of other staff and once smashed a mobile phone over his desk. Sinclair also alleged that he was paid more than £85,000 when he left his job, in a deal that required him not to speak about his experiences.
On Thursday, parliament’s former Black Rod said Bercow’s “intemperate behaviour” was “unworthy of someone in such public office”.
David Leakey, who stepped down last year as Black Rod, a ceremonial post in parliament, said he had experienced the outbursts of temper described by other former members of Bercow’s staff.
“On one occasion, he quite suddenly erupted in a rage, banging the table and being extremely and personally rude to me, including calling me an antisemite. He did apologise to me for that specific remark afterwards, but not for his other highly personal insults, and it is intolerable,” Leakey told Politics Home.
Leadsom said: “Since the publication of the report, we heard further allegations of bullying and mistreatment of the clerks and House of Commons staff.
“These are the people who make parliament tick, who support us on select committees and amplify our work as politicians. They deserve courteous and decent treatment at work, but clearly the respect policy available to them has failed to offer them the protection they need.”
Leadsom said the aim was “to fundamentally change the culture of Westminster”, adding: “Bringing a centuries-old institution into the modern era would take a great deal of perseverance – and persuasion.”
