Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

UK parliament dogged by misconduct claims as two more MPs suspended

UK parliament dogged by misconduct claims as two more MPs suspended

Rishi Sunak promised integrity in politics but some in his party think an electoral loss is needed to clear out unpleasant MPs.
The bad behavior never seems to stop with a ninth U.K. MP now under investigation as Westminster struggles to deal with a wave of abuse claims.

Two senior backbenchers — Julian Knight, a Conservative, and Labour’s Conor McGinn — were suspended by their parties Wednesday night.

Knight lost the whip after a complaint was made to the Metropolitan Police, a Conservative Party spokeswoman said, while declining to comment on the nature of the allegation. Knight, who has chaired the influential culture select committee since 2020, tweeted that the decision was “wrong and unjustified” and claimed he had been “subject to a campaign of rumor and innuendo.” He has “recused” himself from parliament, and is expected to be replaced as committee chair while the matter is investigated. 

McGinn, who has held several roles on Labour’s front bench, said he has not been told of the details of the allegation but was “confident that it is entirely unfounded.”

The ongoing scandal adds to the political pressure on Britain’s latest prime minister, Rishi Sunak. On the campaign trail this summer, Sunak vowed to prioritize integrity but has since been forced to confront a series of misconduct allegations against members of his own party. His own deputy PM, Dominic Raab, is currently under investigation following complaints of bullying, which he denies.

The string of cases is also affecting morale within the party. One female Tory parliamentary candidate said: “We’re all increasingly annoyed that it keeps happening.” She added that there “are quite a few younger Tories — male and female — who think a big loss [at the next election] could actually be the making of the party in terms of getting rid of dead wood, especially the more unpleasant elements.”

The latest suspensions bring the total number of British MPs currently under investigation over their conduct — by the police, party bosses or the parliamentary complaints scheme — to nine, while seven more MPs continue to sit as independents indefinitely after being suspended from their parties.

Knight is the fourth Conservative to be kicked out of the party this year, including former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who lost the whip after announcing he would take part in the reality TV show “I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here.”

Former Chief Whip Chris Pincher, who oversaw party discipline, was suspended from the Conservative Party over the summer following allegations of sexual harassment and remains under investigation, as does backbencher David Warburton. An unnamed Conservative MP has been under arrest since May on suspicion of rape and other offenses, but retains the party whip.

Senior Tory MPs have warned the current system is not dealing properly with MPs accused of sexual harassment or assault. 

Andrea Leadsom, a former Cabinet minister, said: “It’s concerning to female colleagues that a male colleague could be accused of these things, and it just goes into the ether.”

When she was Commons leader, Leadsom helped set up parliament’s independent complaints system through which staff can report bullying and harassment. 

She told POLITICO the scheme was failing because the original plan to set up an HR service alongside it was never fully implemented, meaning the complaints system is “clogged” with lower-level workplace grievances, so victims are reluctant to pursue more serious accusations because it takes so long.

A protocol set up by the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), which allows potential criminal behavior to be referred to the police, may never have been used, Leadsom suggested.

She said some female colleagues were “pretty miserable” with the general state of political life, and in particular, the slowness to deal with problems that damage the reputation of all MPs.

Rachel Maclean, Conservative Party vice-chair, insisted procedures for making complaints about MPs had improved in recent years. She told GB News “we have made a lot of progress” and that it was vital to maintain “due process and justice” in ongoing allegations. 

A House of Commons spokesperson said they did not accept the ICGS as “failing” and pointed out there is an established HR support service for MPs’ staff.

They added that a range of services are available to staff, including a free and confidential helpline for advice on personal and work-related issues, and that complaints are referred to other bodies where appropriate.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Volkswagen plans to shut at least three German plants, axe tens of thousands of jobs and slash pay by 10%
There's a reason the EU is putting huge tariffs on Chinese cars. They know you and your family want one.
Venice Extends Tourist Entry Fee Program to 2025
Vatican Synod Concludes with Support for Women in Leadership Roles
France just broke a crucial barrier for Russian deserters
Meta Enhances Scam Ad Detection with Facial Recognition
German Pizzeria Caught Selling Cocaine with Pizza
Russian Boxer Receives Lifetime Ban for Illegal Move in Boxing Debut
Biden Labels Trump a Threat to Democracy
North Dakota Woman Sentenced for Poisoning Boyfriend Over Illusory Inheritance
Russian Ambassador Claims UK's Proxy War in Ukraine
Proxy Resignation Services in Japan: A Growing Trend
NASA Study Explores Potential Microbial Life Beneath Mars' Ice
Cats: The Liquid-Like Pets
Xi Jinping Urges Troops to Prepare for Conflict Amid Taiwan Drills
Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar Killed in Israeli Operation
Fruit Fly Gut Hormone Study Sheds Light on Human Longevity
Liam Payne's Tragic Death in Buenos Aires
Trump Criticizes Zelensky for Role in Ukraine-Russia War
Yahya Sinwar’s Death Marks Pivotal Moment in Gaza War
US Warns Israel of Potential Aid Cuts Over Gaza Assistance Delays
Meta Faces Legal Battle Over Teen Social Media Addiction
Russia's Call for a BRICS Financial System Alternative
Only A Third Of Europe's Surface Waters Are Healthy
Taiwan Records Unprecedented Chinese Military Activity Post-Drills
Israel Vows to Limit Retaliatory Strike on Iran to Military Facilities
British Influencer Dies Climbing Spain's Tallest Bridge
Four Killed in Tesla Electric Car Fire in France
Man with Weapons Arrested Near Trump Rally in California
China Conducts Military Drills Around Taiwan: A Strategic Warning
US Deploys THAAD Missile Defense System to Israel
DNA Evidence Suggests Christopher Columbus Was a Sephardic Jew
NASA Launches Europa Clipper Mission to Explore Jupiter's Moon
Tesla's Robotaxi Design Strikes Controversy
Poll Shows Trump Favored Over Harris in Handling Wars
Boeing to Reduce Workforce by 10% Amid Financial Strain
These robotic arms deliver a massage that can be customized to the user's needs
Prospect of UK Rejoining the EU Discussed by Peter Mandelson
Historic Floods Reshape Sahara Desert Landscape
Brazilian Man Arrested for Decades-long Abuse and Imprisonment of Family
EU Plans Sanctions on Iran for Missile Transfers to Russia
Nihon Hidankyo Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Donald Trump Amplifies Anti-Migrant Sentiments in Colorado Speech
Ireland Urges Israel to Cease Fire on UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon
Israel Marks Yom Kippur Under Multi-Front Conflict for First Time Since 1973
Elon Musk Unveils Tesla’s Optimus: The Most Ambitious Product Ever
China Faces Potential Overcapacity in AI Computing Power
China's EV Price War Reaches New Heights
Huawei Surpasses Apple in China Smartphone Sales for First Time in Nearly Four Years
William and Kate's First Public Appearance Post-Chemotherapy
×