Party leaders act to contain scandal as new rape allegations emerge

They agreed to implement new processes to help potential victims of sexual harassment

Westminster party leaders and politicians gather in the Prime Minister's Office to discuss sexual abuse claims (AFP/Getty)

Leaders of the main political parties have agreed to new cross-party proposals to address sexual harassment, which will include an independent grievance process, improved human resources support, and the establishment of a working group to implement the changes.

Speaking after the meeting, the Prime Minister hailed an “important step forward” as she revealed the plans, which include upgrading an existing helpline in order to provide face-to-face support for staff by the end of this month. Theresa May said: “Sadly over recent days we’ve seen a number of allegations about figures from across the political parties.

“It’s important that those are investigated impartially and some have rightly been referred to the police. I think if this hasn’t happened to you it’s difficult to appreciate the impact this sort of behaviour can have.

“It simply has a lasting impact on people and we need to do more to stop these abuses of power.”

She added: “I’m sorry that we have seen these abuses of power, too many taking place over too many years. The fact they’ve taken place here at our seat of democracy should be a matter of shame for us all.

“We’ve taken an important step forward today, it’s important that we get this right and that’s what I intend to do.”

Despite their efforts the scandal showed no sign of abating, with Conservative and Liberal Democrat activists alleging separate incidents of rape by other party members and with claims that the incidents were brushed under the carpet in both cases.

A new website for Lib Dem activists also saw a slew of allegations of abuse and harassment made – with one telling of how they woke up naked in another party member’s hotel room unable to remember what had happened.

The Tories and Labour are both now running multiple investigations into MPs and frontbenchers following claims of sexually inappropriate behaviour that have already seen a cabinet minister forced out. Meanwhile Labour activist Bex Bailey has already claimed she was raped at a party event in 2011.

The Liberal Democrats have also referred a rape allegation to police.

The Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable said: “These are the right first cross-party steps to address harassment and abuse in Westminster. There needs to be a robust, independent complaints system across Parliament that offers victims a safe, non-partisan procedure.”

Jo Swinson, the party’s Deputy Leader, who also attended the talks, said: “Sexual harassment has sadly been a problem for far too long. We must now make sure these initial proposals are a positive catalyst for change. The cross-party talks today will hopefully mark the start of that change in Westminster.”

On Monday morning, a Tory activist told the BBC she was raped by a senior figure in the Conservative Party and told to keep quiet about it.

“I was raped by someone senior to me in the Conservative Party,” alleged the woman, who was speaking to the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme under the pseudonym “Amanda.”

“It was violent. It wasn’t in Westminster, it was in my own home. And it shouldn’t have happened. I remember the attack, during the attack I remember the room disappearing around me and thinking I was going to die.

“When he left the next day I was at the police station within an hour and I reported it.”

Sir Michael Fallon the former Defence Secretary has already resigned after admitting his behaviour had “fallen below the standard” required of the armed forces, after the journalist Jame Merrick had called 10 Downing Street and told them he had lunged at her after a working lunch 14 years ago.

The First Secretary of State Damian Green has been accused of sending “sexually suggestive” text messages to a female journalist 30 years his junior, while Labour MP Kelvin Hopkins has been suspended over claims he rubbed his crotch against a student at an event at the University of Essex.

Both men deny any wrongdoing. Dan Poulter and Daniel Kawczynski have both been reported to the Conservative Party’s newly created disciplinary panel.