‘It’s harassment and intimidation’: Tory MPs hit back after inclusion on Westminster sex pest list
3 min read
Conservative MPs have hit back after their inclusion on a Westminster sex pest list, with one branding it "a form of harassment and intimidation".
The document, which includes almost 40 MPs, is thought to have been drawn up by Tory researchers.
It has been circulating around Westminster for several days and include unsubstantiated allegations of inappropriate behaviour and rumours about relations between MPs.
Justice minister Dominic Raab is one of the names on the list, which accuses him of having "an injunction for inappropriate behaviour with women".
But writing on his website today, he said he has taken legal advice over the “false and malicious” claims.
He said: "I appreciate the Westminster list will encourage a further media feeding frenzy against MPs. I also recognise that there are undoubtedly some very disturbing allegations out there, which need to be taken seriously.
"At the same time, for anonymous individuals to compile and publish, or allow to be published, a list of vague, unsubstantiated and – in my case – false allegations is wrong.
"It is also a form of harassment and intimidation, although of course I am not suggesting it is the same or equivalent. Still, accountability should mean properly investigating any reports of abuse, without irresponsibly smearing those who have done nothing wrong.”
He added: “Under my own name, the entry reads: “Injunction for inappropriate behaviour with a woman”. And yet, I have never been served with any injunction for anything. Nor have I ever sought one.
"Equally, any insinuation that I have engaged in anything resembling sexual harassment, sexually abusive behaviour or lewd remarks with either Parliamentary colleagues or staff (in any job I have done) is false and malicious. I have already taken legal advice."
Africa minister Rory Stewart is also named on the list as having made “odd requests” of his former researcher Sophie Bolsover.
He said the claims were “untrue and hurtful” and he and Ms Bolsover took to Twitter to refute the allegations.
Kwasi Kwarteng, a parliamentary aide to Philip Hammond, is accused of having relationships with two Conservative MPs.
He told ITV’s After the News: “Well one of them was in fact libellous, it’s just not true. The other was a historic relationship.
“There are other relationships that occur in the dossier, there are ongoing relationships which are consensual.
“I’ve looked at the list and read it and it looked like something from about two or three years ago, frankly.
He added: The only incident I was really appalled by was completely false and people are just making things up, or there’s hearsay and actually it’s interesting because no one has printed that because I would almost certainly sue them for libel.”
Watch the clip here:
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