What an excellent point our MP makes on this issue.
Kevin Barron Chair, Committee on Standards, Chair, Committee on Privileges
The report makes it clear that there is a small number of sitting MPs who are reported to engage in bullying and harassment on a regular basis. It is also clear that this is a long-running issue, so does the Leader of the House agree that we should scrap any limits on how far investigations can go back and get on with making this a workplace to be proud of?
mb: Historical allegations of bad behaviour by MPs, of any kind, should surely be investigated thoroughly, regardless of the time scale since the alleged events.
Andrea Leadsom Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
“I am glad that the right hon. Gentleman raised that point. He will be aware that when the working group looked at the issue of historical allegations, we were really keen—unanimously—that the new procedure would be able to look at all historical allegations.”
mb: Well said, Ms Leadsom
” However, the internal legal advice that we took suggested to us that it would not be possible to create some kind of system that looked back and judged behaviour that happened a long time ago on the basis of something that had just been agreed. We checked that with external counsel, who indeed confirmed that the further back we go, the more problematic it is. ”
mb: “external counsel” seem to be speaking the obvious here about “the further back we go, the more problematic it is. ” However, this doesn’t make it ok to ignore an issue because its “problematic”, does it ?
” I see that, in her report, Dame Laura challenges that advice. I am glad that the right hon. Gentleman raised that point, because it is something that I will be very pleased to add to the list of things for the review that will start in January.”
mb : Well said, Dame Laura.
Perhaps this review will highlight other “historical allegations” which have not been investigated due to them being “problematic”.
Bullying and Harassment: Cox Report
Note just in parliament but in the local council. There has been suggestions of bullying in the local council and publicly humiliating any opposition by opposition councillors and even their own voters