London: UK’s Prime Minister, Theresa May, is seeking action to change the culture of Parliament to stamp out sexual harassment by lawmakers, as a senior member of her team faces an inquiry over a sexism furore.
May is writing to the speaker of the House of Commons to propose action to deal with inappropriate behaviour from male lawmakers toward female aides and colleagues, amid concerns that it has been tolerated for too long, Cabinet minister Jeremy Hunt said.
“Today, Theresa May is going to write to John Bercow, speaker of the House of Commons, to ask for his advice as to how we change that culture,” Hunt told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday. “Things have got better in recent years but there is still a long way to go.”
A statement from May’s Conservative party on Sunday said she wants “a new contractually binding grievance procedure” for all members of Parliament and their staff. The workings of Parliament are for Bercow and other Commons officials to decide, not for the prime minister.
May herself is facing questions over how much she knows about the culture of sexism and harassment in politics after the Sunday Times reported claims that she receives regular briefings on the activities of her lawmakers and ministers. On Friday, she called on victims to come forward and seek justice.
Trade Minister Mark Garnier admitted asking his assistant to buy sex toys for him and speaking to her using a sexist term, according to the Mail on Sunday newspaper. Hunt, the health secretary, said senior officials will investigate whether Garnier broke the ministerial code, which sets the rules for members of the government.
“These stories, if they are true, are obviously totally unacceptable, and the Cabinet Office will be conducting an investigation as to whether there has been a breach of the ministerial code in this particular case, but as you know the facts are disputed,” Hunt said.
Garnier didn’t immediately respond to requests from Bloomberg News to comment on the Mail story.
