Parliament exclusion proposals are a welcome step in making the Commons a safe place to work

The House of Commons Commission has announced new plans to exclude from the parliamentary estate MPs who are under investigation for violent or sexual offences.

The proposals will allow for the risk-based exclusion of these MPs, who are currently only prevented from attending Parliament by voluntary arrangements with their own party whips. Prospect and other unions parliament have long argued for Parliament to mirror other workplaces by officially barring people while they are under investigation.

Prospect General Secretary Mike Clancy, said:

“These proposals are a welcome step towards making Parliament a safe place to work and they are the result of a long campaign by union members working at the heart of our democracy.

“There must be no more delays and a vote must be held as soon as Parliament returns in January.

“We now need to see political parties commit to notify the relevant parliamentary authorities when they commence their own investigations into alleged sexual and violent misconduct by MPs, so that appropriate steps can be taken to protect staff and visitors on the parliamentary estate.”