Theresa May blasts ‘dirty dossier’ saying MPs’ careers should not be ‘damaged by unfounded rumours spread anonymously online’
PM addressed sleaze scandal in a speech to the CBI – saying ‘for too long the powerful have been able to abuse their power’
THERESA May has blasted the so-called “dirty dossier” detailing claims about MPs – saying careers should not be “damaged by unfounded rumours circulated anonymously online”.
The Prime Minister addressed the Westminster sleaze scandal in a speech to the CBI, calling for a new “culture of respect at the centre of our public life”.
Having set up a new code of conduct and grievance procedure for the Conservative party – she said “now is the time to act decisively”.
It comes ahead of a meeting with Jeremy Corbyn and other party leaders in a bid to come up for a new cross-party approach cleaning up Parliament as the damaging revelations continue to emerge.
Mrs May was criticised for not appearing over the weekend to address the claims, which mean that as well as Sir Michael Fallon, a Cabinet minister, and Chris Pincher, a Government whip, resigning, two more MPs are facing Cabinet Office inquiries – the de facto deputy PM Damian Green and trade minister Mark Garnier.
Meanwhile another three; Stephen Crabb, Dan Poulter and Daniel Kawczynski face investigation by the Tory party’s new disciplinary panel, and backbencher Charlie Elphicke has had the whip suspended and faces a police investigation.
Today the PM broke off from speaking about the economy in her address to business leaders to confront the issue head-on.
She said: “Parliament and Whitehall are special places in our democracy, but they are also places of work and exactly the same standards and norms should govern them as govern any other workplace.
“What has been revealed over the last few weeks has been deeply troubling - and has understandably led to significant public unease.
“Women and men should be able to work free from the threat or fear of harassment, bullying or intimidation.”
Mrs May added: “But for too long the powerful have been able to abuse their power, and their victims have not felt able to speak out.
“Let me be very frank – political parties have not always got this right in the past. But I am determined to get it right for the future.
“So I have already published a new code of conduct and grievance procedure for the Conservative Party, which will apply to all Conservative office holders and representatives.”
She said: “We need to establish a new culture of respect at the centre of our public life -one in which everyone can feel confident that they are working in a safe and secure environment, where complaints can be brought forward without prejudice and victims know that those complaints will be investigated properly.
“And where people’s careers cannot be damaged by unfounded rumours circulated anonymously online.”
This was an attack on the so-called “dirty dossier”, which detailed lurid and unverified claims about dozens of Tory MPs, as well as many which were already in the public domain or were wholly consensual and abovce board
The PM added the scandal “isn’t about prying into private lives”, adding: “What we are talking about is the use and abuse of power. We must stand up for all the victims of abuse, harassment or discrimination, wherever it has occurred.
“Now is the time to act decisively - without fear or favour - to guarantee a safe and respectful working environment for everyone in the future."
Earlier Andrew McDonald, former chief executive of Ipsa – which monitors MPs’ standards, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There are about 3,500 staff. They're employed and selected byMPs.
"I don't think that's the right way to employ staff these days - far better to group them together into one independent agency where they would have the sort of support that listeners are familiar with from their own workplaces.
"Parliament is very resistant to change in my experience. I think the key is to take the opportunity for radical change."
Elsewhere in her speech the PM said UK businesses were falling short of rivals in the United States and Germany in pumping money into developing new technology, as she sought to reassure business leaders nervous about the Government's approach to Brexit.
