Is there a bullying culture at Westminster?

The findings of the inquiry into Keith Vaz’s conduct while in office are just the latest in a series of damaging revelations of bullying and sexual harassment towards Commons staff, writes Andrew Grice

Former MP Keith Vaz engaged in ‘sustained and unpleasant’ bullying, according to a Commons report published on Thursday (AFP via Getty)

Keith Vaz, a former Labour MP, was guilty of “sustained and unpleasant bullying” which had an “enduring psychological impact” on a female Commons clerk, according to the Commons Independent Expert Panel.

Mr Vaz, who chaired the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, should be banned for life from the Palace of Westminster and never handed back the security pass normally given to ex-MPs, the panel ruled. He lost his pass over a separate breach of the Commons code of conduct.

The panel’s chair, Sir Stephen Irwin, said Mr Vaz’s misconduct led to the complainant Jenny McCullough leaving her Commons career, adding: “He should be ashamed of his behaviour.” Mr Vaz has rejected the ruling and is considering legal action.

The finding is the latest in a series of damaging revelations of bullying and sexual harassment towards Commons staff, which have come to light in recent years after decades in which they were swept under the green and red carpets at Westminster.

In 2018, a landmark inquiry by Dame Laura Cox, a former high court judge, found “a culture, cascading from the top down, of deference, subservience, acquiescence and silence, in which bullying, harassment and sexual harassment have been able to thrive and have long been tolerated and concealed”. She added: “Some MPs were alleged to be ‘serial offenders’ and there was said to be widespread and long-standing awareness internally of their behaviour.”

Dame Laura found it difficult to envisage how the necessary changes could be made and the confidence of the staff restored “under the current senior house administration”. This included John Bercow, the then Commons speaker, who strongly denied allegations he bullied staff and David Natzler, who retired as clerk of the house following the Cox report.

The Independent Expert Panel, set up last year, now decides sanctions against MPs accused of bullying and harassment rather than the Commons itself. The house has also allowed historic claims to be investigated. These long-overdue reforms have been welcomed.

Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union representing civil servants, said of the panel’s findings on Mr Vaz: “This conduct would have been visible to fellow MPs, whips and senior managers in parliament. The unwillingness of parliament to address these issues before now should weigh heavily on all who had the opportunity and power to address them at the time.”

Some Commons insiders believe the independent complaints system is acting as a deterrent to MPs but one staffer said: “The problem is for staff employed directly by MPs, rather than the house itself, as the clerks are. Staff can be frightened to complain about their employer and some MPs will abuse that power. Things have changed a little, but not enough.”

A parliament spokesperson said: “We are clear that bullying and harassment has no place in the UK parliament, and we take the safety and welfare of everyone in parliament extremely seriously. Since the introduction of parliament’s behaviour code and independent complaints and grievances scheme, all members of the parliamentary community, including staff and members, have access to a range of services - including advice, support and signposting for those who may be affected by sexual misconduct, bullying and harassment whilst on the parliamentary estate, in constituency offices or whilst undertaking parliamentary work.”