British Parliament marred by harassment scandal
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LONDON: Female staff at British parliament are naming and shaming MPs for harassment on a secret WhatsApp group, it has been revealed. Cabinet members are among a list of politicians branded ‘not safe’ in taxis and lifts or ‘very handsy’ by aides and researchers.
According to British media reports, the scandal could see MPs and other parliamentary personnel outed by the weekend and that resignations are ‘anticipated’ as a result.
While the ‘usual suspects’ are said to be well-known by those in Westminster, the list was recently drawn up to bring new recruits up to scratch on ‘younger names’.
Fuming researchers, secretaries and aides linked up to share horror stories and warn new recruits of sleazy bosses.
Reports include tales of MPs groping staff in lifts and a Minister branded “Not Safe In Taxis” because of his wandering hands.
Culprits are said to include Cabinet Ministers — and to cross the political divide from Parliament’s bars and party conferences.
A member of the group said: ‘The usual old suspects are there but there have been some surprising younger names crop up.” Another told the paper women working in parliament actively protected each other from overly-keen politicians.
News of the WhatsApp group comes in the wake of the #MeToo social media phenomenon which has seen women around the world speak out about harassment.
And after revelations about film mogul Harvey Weinstein rocked Hollywood, Westminster is on red alert for a fresh scandal.
A parliamentary source said the names of some of the worst offenders were widely known — but that the list was being drawn up “so new arrivals could be warned”.
One member of the WhatsApp group said: “The usual old suspects are there but there have been some surprising younger names crop up.”
