JEREMY CORBYN has spoken out against the “warped and degrading culture” of sexual harrassment which exists within Westminster.
The Labour leader made his remarks after it emerged that female staff in the House of Commons have been naming “sex pest” MPs in a private social media group.
In a speech to the Scottish Unite The Union conference in Aviemore, the UK Labour leader slammed “a culture where the abuse of women has often been accepted and normalised”.
His intervention came as a Scottish Labour MP revealed that fellow politicians warned her she might be harassed by men working in the Houses of Parliament.
Female staff are believed to have set up a WhatsApp group to share information after allegations of sexual assault and rape were made against the Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
Mr Weinstein denies the allegations against him.
Mr Corbyn said a “warped and degrading culture” – where the abuse of women is accepted and normalised – is thriving in the corridors of power.
He told delegates: “Sexual abuse is not confined to any one workplace or institution. Too often, when women have spoken out they haven’t been listened to.
“This must be the turning point. Any members of parliament who have engaged in this sort of behaviour must be held to account.”
In his keynote speech, Mr Corbyn urged women who have suffered such abuse or harassment to report it to authorities, including – if appropriate – the police.
Midlothian MP Danielle Rowley told The Sunday Post that while she had not experienced any harassment, the issue was “something I’ve been made really aware of” by politicians helping her settle in after her election in June.
She said: “Female colleagues have said if anything happens then come to us straight away. They have been offering support.
“I don’t know if it’s because that’s how it has been in the past so there is an expectation or worry it might happen, or if it’s that people know it is something that is currently happening, but it’s certainly something being talked about.”
Mr Corbyn has faced accusations that he was slow to act over misogynistic and homophobic comments by Labour MP Jared O’Mara – including a claim he called a constituent an “ugly b****”, which he denies.
But the Labour leader said that his party “will not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment”.
It was reported yesterday that four MPs, including a minister, had been caught up in allegations of sexual misconduct at Westminster.
The MPs – two Labour and two Conservative – have been accused of harassing or propositioning young women inappropriately.
Downing Street has described allegations of abuse as “deeply concerning” and warned any minister found to have behaved inappropriately would face “serious action”.
Women and Equalities Minister Justine Greening said abusive behaviour towards women at Westminster must be stamped out.
She said: “There is no place in Westminster for this kind of behaviour.
“Women who experience it should be coming forward to be clear about what has happened to them.”
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