Meeting of the Parliament 13 March 2026 [Draft]
The allegations, and the volume of them, are shocking and will be hugely concerning for everyone using the parliamentary estate. I thank those who have come forward and shared their experiences to help to improve the culture and conduct in Parliament. In 2018, in response to the #MeToo movement, Parliament undertook work to tackle inappropriate conduct and to improve its culture. The report lays bare not only that have we not completely tackled the problem but that it might actually have got worse. That means that parliamentary and members’ staff might have been put in positions that they never should have been in.
It is absolutely incumbent on all parties to take the issue seriously and to address any and all inappropriate conduct in their groups, and I am pleased to hear the commitments that colleagues have made today. I am also pleased that one recommendation is to give staff a direct escalation line to the Parliament’s human resources team, as I think that that will help to address situations in which there are complaints between parties or in which staff feel that they cannot challenge members’ behaviour.
The public rightly expect the highest standard of behaviour from members, and it is clear that some have fallen far short of that. It is on all of us to tackle the power structures that have prevented people from stepping forward and to foster a culture in which everyone is welcome, safe and supported. My party is committed to doing that.