Warning over plans to protect names of MPs accused of financial misconduct amid sex abuse crackdown
3 min read
A powerful Commons committee has warned against attempts to anonymise MPs accused of financial misconduct as part of a crackdown on sexual harassment and bullying in parliament.
MPs on the Standards Committee said an extension of confidentiality rules to those accused of any offence would “undermine public confidence”.
Parliamentary watchdogs currently list all ongoing investigations into MPs on their website - including those into financial conduct and misuse of stationary.
But a cross-party group tasked with drawing up a new complaints procedure in the wake of the sexual harassment scandal last year, suggested an end to updates for all offences on the Parliamentary Commissioner site.
The proposal was shot down by the Standards Committee - which said only investigations into sexual harassment and bullying cases should remain secret until concluded, in a bid to encourage whistleblowers.
“We are not persuaded that a change in practice would be desirable,” the Committee said in a new report.
“We do not believe that any gains from extending confidentiality to allegations of matters quite unrelated to bullying, harassment and sexual harassment, matters such as alleged financial misconduct or misuse of House stationery, will outweigh the reputational damage to the House from what would undoubtedly be presented in the media as an attempt by MPs to roll back a key element of openness in the existing system.”
Elsewhere, the Committee also rejected a proposal for a Commons vote on whether MPs should be suspended or expelled without having access to details of cases or the opportunity to debate them.
It said such a plan would “undermine public confidence in the new system by giving the impression that decisions were being taken by Members in secret, ‘dodgy deals’ were being struck or a Member being judged by a ‘kangaroo court’”.
Standards Committee chair Sir Kevin Barron said: “I very much hope that the recommendations we have made are given careful and thorough consideration, and that Parliament can put in place an effective process to protect and support everyone working in or visiting this place.”
The Commission was assessing the plans due to be published next week for a new Independent Complaints and Grievance Policy to cover sexual harassment and bullying.
It was launched by Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom after claims of sexual abuse and bullying in Westminster exploded in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
Ms Leadsom said: "I welcome the Committee's broad support of the Steering Group's proposals and thank its members for their collaborative approach.
"We are all committed to changing the culture in Westminster and ahead of next week's debate will set out exactly how the Independent Complaints and Grievance Procedure will put the complainant at the heart of the process."
A number of MPs faced party probes after allegations by staff members last year, while two ministers - Damian Green and Michael Fallon - were forced to quit their jobs.
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