Theresa May releases new code of conduct for Tory MPs as Jeremy Corbyn warned Labour’s new sexual harassment complaint procedure is ‘insufficient’
PM has rushed out a new document for all Conservative representatives in the wake of the Westminster sleaze scandal
THERESA May has released a new code of conduct for Tory MPs this afternoon as Jeremy Corbyn has been warned Labour’s new complaint procedure for sexual harassment is “insufficient”.
The Prime Minister has rushed out a new document for all Conservative Party representatives in the wake of the in the wake of the Westminster sleaze scandal.
A tide of allegations of harassment, abuse and sexual assault has swept through British politics, which has seen one Mrs May’s Cabinet resign and another two ministers under investigation.
In response the Conservatives are adopting a with a hotline for reporting potential breaches and a more detailed process for investigation by a panel.
In a letter to Commons Speaker John Bercow, the PM said the Government and her party believe there should be "a common, transparent, independent grievance procedure for all those working in Parliament who wish to raise concerns which provides clarity and certainty about how their concerns will be dealt with, and the support they will receive".
In her letter, Mrs May said there was a "vital need to provide better support and protection for the thousands of staff working in Westminster and in constituency offices across the country".
She called on other leaders to help her deliver a "serious, swift, cross-party response" to the problem, which would allow complainants to take their concerns to a single body, regardless of the party of the alleged offender.
The Tory leader appeared to rebuff Mr Bercow's suggestion that policing MPs' behaviour should in the first instance be a responsibility for the political parties.
She pointed out that some MPs have no party affiliation - including the Speaker himself.
Mrs May said "It cannot be right when dealing with serious issues relating to behaviour in Parliament that vulnerable or concerned people are expected to navigate different grievance procedures according to political party.
"Neither can it be right that such difficult issues themselves are dealt with on a party political basis, or that no support should be provided for those with no political or party affiliation.
"The House of Commons includes Members of Parliament who are not affiliated to any party - those who have been elected as an independent, those who have left the party under whose label they were elected, and indeed you as Speaker."
The new Conservative code of conduct is due to be formally adopted at a meeting of the party's board at the end of November.
Mrs May is due to meet opposition party leaders including Mr Corbyn on Monday to discuss proposals to bring forward a new grievance system for Westminster.
But the Labour leader’s move to tighten up his party’s system for dealing with issues has been criticised by a member of the National Executive Committee.
The procedure would see grievances reviewed by a specialist panel appointed by the NEC, but Jasmin Beckett has now written to the veteran leftie urging him to consider setting up a fully independent body to deal with sensitive complaints.
In an email sent to Labour MPs on Wednesday, General Secretary Iain McNicol is understood to have said the party had agreed a "code of conduct for sexual harassment and gender discrimination" and appointed a panel to police it.
But Ms Beckett, who represents Young Labour on the NEC, said that experiences of sexual harassment within the party were "not rare" among young members, adding: "I am aware of more members wanting to make complaints but not feeling able to do so."
She called for the appointment of an independent external investigator to look into complaints. And she said: "The new sexual harassment policy is still insufficient and makes no attempt to look at the possibility of an independent body to deal with sensitive complaints going forward.
"In light of the recent complaints, I am now convinced that we need to consider these options to ensure members of our party feel able to speak out."
Her warning came as Mr Corbyn was criticised by a prominent Labour backbencher for promoting Kelvin Hopkins to the shadow cabinet last year after a young activist had raised allegations about his behaviour.
The veteran Luton North MP has been suspended while an investigation into claims that he rubbed his crotch on a young activist and sent her suggestive texts.
