Long-awaited plans to bar MPs and peers accused of sexual or violent offences from Westminster will be “kicked into the long grass”, it is feared, as plans to hold a debate on the proposals have been delayed.
Commons leader Penny Mordaunt confirmed that MPs will debate whether MPs should be barred from entering the parliamentary estate once they are subject to police investigation on Monday, but there will be no vote.
The debate follows a report from the House of Commons Commission that outlined the new proposals. Under the plans, MPs and peers under police investigation would be subject to a risk assessment carried out by a panel of officials.
A separate panel of politicians, understood to be the deputy speakers of each chamber, would decide whether the member should be barred. Unions fear that if an exclusion is proposed, MPs may still be able to use their constituency offices.
The FDA and Prospect civil service unions have warned that with seven weeks until parliament breaks for summer recess, calls for such measures to be enacted may lose momentum and continue to leave victims at risk in the run-up to the next general election.
Mike Clancy, the Prospect general secretary, said: “For too long, staff and visitors to the parliamentary estate have been at risk from MPs credibly accused of violent and sexual misconduct being free to roam the Palace of Westminster.
“Unions, staff and others have worked with the speaker and the leader of house to develop a workable proposal that addresses this scandal and protects staff. This delay in allowing a vote on the proposals is unacceptable and must not be a precursor to kicking the recommendations into the long grass.
“A vote must be held as soon as possible, and party leaders must instruct their MPs to support these proposals as the start of a much-needed culture change in Westminster.”
The FDA national officer Jawad Raza said: “We can’t have a delay to voting on these welcome measures because for too long this issue of high importance has been kicked to the kerb.
“There are no current mechanisms in place apart from a gentleman’s agreement that says a person under investigation should not attend parliament. Parliament as a workplace should not be an exception. All individuals should be protected.”
The number of MPs who have lost their party’s whip due to allegations of sexual harassment or assault has grown recently. The Labour party suspended Geraint Davies last week over allegations stretching back several years.
Other examples include Chris Pincher, the former Conservative MP who lost the party whip over allegations that he had drunkenly groped two men. After the incident, Pincher said he had embarrassed himself and others and was “truly sorry for the upset I caused”.
The former Tory MP Rob Roberts lost the whip after being accused of making unwanted sexual advances. While Roberts accepted that his actions were “completely improper and should not have happened”, he rejected the characterisation of his advances as being “sexual” and said instead that they were “romantic”.
An unnamed Conservative MP is also on bail after being accused of rape, sexual assault and other related charges. All the MPs remain free to use the parliamentary estate.
MPs and staffers have expressed concern that those already vulnerable after reporting serious incidents – and others shaken by reports of parliamentary sleaze scandals – are at risk from members under investigation but who are still free to roam the estate.
“ICGS [independent complaints and grievance scheme] investigations can take a very long time for a number of reasons. Vulnerable people should be protected from alleged perpetrators during this period until they are proved innocent,” a senior MP has said.
One union insider said: “Will they reopen the consultation after the debate?”
Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
