New harassment rules for MPs ‘not a deterrent’, says Fallon accuser
Written by News on 05/01/2018
A woman whose story of sexual harassment caused a Cabinet minister to resign has warned leaked proposals to safeguard people working in Westminster are not a “deterrent”.
Jane Merrick said the measures were “very concerning” because MPs would not face tough enough punishments for inappropriate behaviour.
The journalist’s claim that Sir Michael Fallon lunged at her and tried to kiss her on the lips led to the former Defence Secretary being forced to step down in November. He apologised for “falling below” acceptable standards.
Ms Merrick said the panel set up after to create an independent complaints procedure to root out abuse in Parliament would not go far enough to help staff working there.
Proposed sanctions against MPs, such as e-learning, being sent on a training course or forced to apologise were “very limited”, she said, adding: “I think what people who’ve been involved and caught up in this want to hear are tougher sanctions.”
Ms Merrick voiced concerns that a delay in setting up the new independent complaints procedure would still create problems for Westminster workers scared of raising incidents with their political party.
“I have spoken to women, who have not been able to come forward, but have complaints about politicians, who are concerned that if they go to the political parties that they won’t be understood or listened to – or that it will be covered up in some way,” she said.
Ms Merrick highlighted the case of Bex Bailey, a Labour activist who claimed she was discouraged from reporting a rape allegation by a party official.
Labour launched an investigation after Ms Bailey went public with the claim at the height of the Westminster harassment scandal.
In that incident, Ms Merrick said, the draft report also failed because it did not apply to those outside Parliament.
It reads: “The working group recognises that visitors to constituency offices and advice surgeries are in scope but has not taken sufficient evidence to propose how they should best be included in these new arrangements.
“This needs to be properly considered and has been identified as an area for early future action.”
In a statement to Sky News, panel convenor and Leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom said: “This is a very serious matter that the working group are determined to get right, and as the chair, I will not comment on the content of leaked documents.
“We all recognise the need to change the culture in Westminster.
“The working group will meet as soon as Parliament returns to make further progress in creating an independent complaints procedure. In the meantime, interim support has been put in place by the House authorities.”
(c) Sky News 2018: New harassment rules for MPs ‘not a deterrent’, says Fallon accuser
