David Warburton case shows need for rule to ban those accused of sexual misconduct from Parliament

Unions have responded to weekend allegations about David Warburton MP by reiterating their call to exclude MPs accused of sexual misconduct from the estate during any investigation.

Warburton has today been suspended by the Conservative party and has been reported to parliament’s independent complaints and grievance scheme. However no rule currently exists that prevents an MP accused of sexual misbehaviour from attending Parliament. Unions believe that that is a clear loophole and potentially poses risks to the hundreds of staff, visitors and other MPs who might interact with an MP suspected of sexual misconduct.

The Trade Union Side, made up of the unions representing workers in Parliament (Prospect, FDA, PCS and GMB) has written to Karen Bradley, Chair of the House of Commons Procedure Committee asking her to undertake an inquiry into the feasibility of introducing a new rule which would ban anyone under investigation for sexual misconduct from the estate. This follows a recommendation from the Women and Equalities Committee last year in its report into a gender sensitive parliament.

Garry Graham, Deputy General Secretary of Prospect, said:

“The introduction of a rule to bar from the parliamentary estate any MP being investigated for sexual misconduct is long overdue. We are again in the situation where an MP, accused of a serious offence, is technically free to come and go as he pleases. This is a ridiculous oversight that will leave people questioning parliament’s commitment to keeping its staff safe.

“I urge Karen Bradley, chair of the Procedure Committee, to bring forward an inquiry into introducing such a rule, both to protect members of staff working in parliament and to bring Parliament into the 21st century as an employer. In no other workplace would someone subject to such serious allegations receive only a voluntary ban.”