If Michael Fallon isn't good enough to stay on in the Cabinet, he shouldn't be good enough to remain an MP

MPs also spend a lot of time working with their constituents – some of whom are vulnerable, many of whom are women – and these people need to have confidence that they will not face abuse and harassment in seeking help

Michael Fallon resigned from his post as Defence Secretary (PA)

Michael Fallon’s fall from grace has been swift and all encompassing. Once a trusted pair of hands, deployed to handle the Government’s most challenging issues, he is now banished to the backbenches for bad behaviour.

The ex-defence secretary admitted his conduct was not up to scratch, either for high office or for the members of the armed forces that he represented.

A position at the Cabinet table is an extraordinary privilege and one that should be taken seriously.

But so, arguably, is representing the people of Sevenoaks, who have placed their trust in him.

On a wider note, why are allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour deemed unacceptable for a minister but absolutely hunky dory for an ordinary MP?

Theresa May clearly does not want to do anything to further destabilise her weakened position, especially if it involves triggering a by-election where Jeremy Corbyn’s emboldened party could sweep in.

So she allowed Fallon to resign – a powerful symbolic gesture – and remain in the party, where he will hopefully be out of sight and out of mind for a while until the memories of the hand on the knee of a female journalist fade from the public’s mind.

The implication from this sort of action is that backbenchers are held to a lower standard of conduct than ministers, which seems unfair to decent, hard-working MPs and also their constituents.

Some politicians live out their career on the backbenches – including, until recently, a certain Labour leader – knowing that a front bench role might force them to compromise their deeply-held views to follow the line of their party.

Others chip away at the Government on vital issues, as Labour MP Stella Creasy did earlier this year when she forced ministers to make a significant concession to allow Northern Irish women to seek abortions on the NHS in England, in an effort to see off a Commons revolt on the Queen’s Speech.

MPs also spend a lot of time working with their constituents – some of whom are vulnerable, many of whom are women – and these people need to have confidence that they will not face abuse and harassment in seeking help from their elected representative.

Parliament cannot be a dumping ground for badly behaved ministers, who slink out of the limelight, only to return shiny and new after a matter of months.

This is a moment for May to think deeply about toughening up the rules and really showing some leadership, which in turn would allow her premiership to be defined by more than Brexit.

The last few days in Westminster have been ugly but one of the things I least anticipated from this thoroughly unedifying saga was how exhausted it would make me feel, like I’ve been churned through the ringer and spat out again.

No matter how much you think you know that sexism and harassment is endemic in all walks of life, it is quite another thing to spend days listening to stories that are infuriating, offensive and at times, downright heart-breaking.

Labour MP Jess Phillips, who is a doughty campaigner for women’s rights, summed it up perfectly this afternoon in a sadly sparsely attended Commons debate on harassment in schools.

Looking close to tears, she told MPs that something has got to change as she could not bear to still be having the same conversations about abuse and harassment – both in schools and Westminster – in a year’s time.

I could not agree with her more. We have to make it worth it, for all the brave women and men who have put everything on the line to share their stories, and for anyone who could not find the words.