Sky News today publishes the testimony of two women who give detailed, first-hand accounts of what happened to them when one was assaulted and the other assaulted by political figures who are both now in senior roles. A woman claims the man involved – who currently serves in the cabinet – ‘fed her wine’ despite being visibly drunk. When she asked to go to bed she “didn’t leave me alone”. Another woman claims she was groped by someone now working at Number 10, who remained in his post after complaining about his appointment. Click to subscribe to The Open Secret wherever you get your podcasts Sky News is not naming the two men at the center of the claims to protect victims. It comes in the wake of the Chris Pincher scandal, when after the deputy chief whip resigned amid allegations of sexual misconduct, questions were raised about what the prime minister already knew about his behaviour.
More on Westminster harassment
The fallout ultimately ended Boris Johnson’s prime ministership. Prime Minister pledges £700m as time in office draws to a close – Politics Latest Speaking to Sky News anonymously, a former Conservative MP has given details of a sexual assault she claims took place at the hands of an MP who is now a cabinet minister. He also said he has reason to believe the story has circulated in political circles, but it has not seriously hindered his career. She said: “I was sexually assaulted by someone who is now a cabinet minister, and I was in my twenties and I didn’t know how to deal with it. “I was really drunk. He’s feeding me more wine and I’m already pretty hooked. After a while, I was like, you know, what? Would you mind if I went to bed? So I went to bed.” “But obviously he didn’t leave me alone. And then I woke up the next morning and realized what had happened.” She later told colleagues and the MP she was working for at the time, who encouraged her to report it to the police. After some initial discussions with the police, however, he chose not to proceed further and did not make a formal complaint to the Conservative party. She explained: “I was too scared to start this process and risk it getting out of hand.” He believes that “I can’t do anything without jeopardizing my career” and “ruining my life.” A Conservative spokesman said: “We have an established code of conduct and complaints procedure where people can report complaints in confidence. We take every complaint seriously.” A government spokesman said: “We take allegations of misconduct extremely seriously and there are strict procedures in place to raise concerns. “All ministerial appointments also follow established procedures.” Ministerial appointments are made by the prime minister, with the civil service unable to veto any decision. “The office he’ll be working in is full of women… and I thought he’d do it again” Sky News also spoke to a former Conservative aide who claimed she was groped by a senior Number 10 official before he was appointed to a top Downing Street job. The woman – who was working at Number 10 when she says the incident happened – made multiple complaints about his appointment, but he remains in the role. He said: “I heard he was going to get a job in Downing Street. I raised her with many people. “Nothing happened. Then I formally complained to the cabinet office. I just felt a responsibility to do it again, partly because the office he will be working in is full of women. And I just thought he would do it again.” He also claimed that upon hearing the claim, his boss – a close associate of the Prime Minister – dismissed him, on the grounds that the man was “handsome and had women flying at him”. Sky News confirmed these comments with another source who heard them directly. A Conservative spokesman said: “If an allegation of criminal wrongdoing is made, we would always advise the person to contact the police.” A government spokesman said: “All prospective civil servants are subject to necessary vetting and vetting. We do not comment on individuals.” Mr Johnson was asked, earlier this week, whether he had done enough to tackle sexual misconduct in politics, given the Conservatives have faced several scandals during his premiership. He replied: “All these things need to be handled carefully and sensitively, and we have procedures in place to deal with them. And those who have complaints should raise them in the normal way.” “Some of the most dangerous people are probably the last ones you would ever suspect” The allegations are part of a long-running Sky News investigation into the culture of Westminster which spans all political parties and has received evidence from staff, MPs and others about how allegations of sexual misconduct and bullying are dealt with at Westminster. Some of the interviewees suggested that while names of political figures to stay away were regularly circulated, often no action was taken and this tended to have little impact on their career development. Instead, many suggested that making a formal complaint about someone higher up in politics could damage their own job prospects. Image: Labor MP Charlotte Nichols: Pic: House of Parliament Labor MP Charlotte Nichols said: “To survive in Westminster you have to rely on this network of whispers. “Eventually. It’s never going to be 100% effective. You know, some of the most dangerous people are probably the last people you’d ever suspect.” She also recounted her own experience of misconduct by a senior MP. “I have been repeatedly proposed to by an MP who is old enough to be my grandfather and sometimes in front of other colleagues who have either laughed it off or said nothing when he did it. “I know from talking to other people that, you know, this is not unusual behavior for him … It’s something that he clearly feels emboldened to do, that he feels entitled to do.” “Basically, if it’s not rape, it’s fine” Sky News also spoke to a former SNP staffer who reported an MP, Patrick Grady, to Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) – the body set up in 2018 to deal with harassment and bullying. Image: Patrick Grady MP. Photo: Parliament His complaint was upheld and Mr Grady was found to have made unwanted sexual projections towards him and was suspended from the House of Commons for two days. The victim claimed that after the year-long investigation he felt he had to leave his job because it became a “non-role with no work to do and no route back to normal”. He also claimed that Westminster SNP leader Ian Blackford had mishandled the incident over a number of years. He said: “Ian’s handling of it made everything much worse. And his failure to take responsibility for it. You know, it’s not just shocking, it’s disappointing, but it puts every SNP staff member working for him at risk. “ A spokesman for the SNP Westminster caucus said: “The SNP takes all complaints seriously and the caucus has fully accepted and implemented the recommendations of the ICGS – the parliament’s fully independent complaints process. “The person concerned has been offered support throughout the process and we have also launched a review of staff support to look at any improvements that could be made.” Speaking about the culture of Westminster, the former SNP staffer said: “There is a line of tolerance. You’re allowed to grope someone on the bum, you might be allowed to stick your finger down someone’s throat, maybe you can kiss them without consent, but you are not allowed to rush them. “And to me that’s despicable and appalling, but it really shows the culture within Westminster and how people view this kind of thing… basically if it’s not rape, it’s fine.” “We take allegations of misconduct very seriously” A House of Commons spokesman said: “Bullying, harassment and sexual harassment have absolutely no place in parliament. “The code of conduct makes clear the standards of behavior expected of everyone in parliament – whether staff, members’ staff, members of the House of Lords, MPs or visitors. “Parliament’s Independent Whistleblowing and Complaints Scheme was created to enable anyone in the parliamentary community to report bullying, harassment and sexual harassment in confidence. “We want to make sure that everyone who works here feels able to report such cases. We know that currently there are still barriers to this happening – and that there is still work to be done to ensure that everyone is treated with the respect and dignity they deserve .” In The Open Secret, a three-part podcast series from Sky News, political correspondent Liz Bates reveals what else is kept hidden in the corridors of power. He hears from others who were afraid to speak up and finds out why issues like these are rarely addressed properly. Click to subscribe to The Open Secret wherever you get your podcasts
title: “Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Cabinet Minister And Top Minister Revealed 10 Political News Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-11” author: “Briana Mackinder”
Sky News today publishes the testimony of two women who give detailed, first-hand accounts of what happened to them when one was assaulted and the other assaulted by political figures who are both now in senior roles. A woman claims the man involved – who currently serves in the cabinet – ‘fed her wine’ despite being visibly drunk. When she asked to go to bed she “didn’t leave me alone”. Another woman claims she was groped by someone now working at Number 10, who remained in his post after complaining about his appointment. Click to subscribe to The Open Secret wherever you get your podcasts Sky News is not naming the two men at the center of the claims to protect victims. It comes in the wake of the Chris Pincher scandal, when after the deputy chief whip resigned amid allegations of sexual misconduct, questions were raised about what the prime minister already knew about his behaviour.
More on Westminster harassment
The fallout ultimately ended Boris Johnson’s prime ministership. Prime Minister pledges £700m as time in office draws to a close – Politics Latest Speaking to Sky News anonymously, a former Conservative MP has given details of a sexual assault she claims took place at the hands of an MP who is now a cabinet minister. He also said he has reason to believe the story has circulated in political circles, but it has not seriously hindered his career. She said: “I was sexually assaulted by someone who is now a cabinet minister, and I was in my twenties and I didn’t know how to deal with it. “I was really drunk. He’s feeding me more wine and I’m already pretty hooked. After a while, I was like, you know, what? Would you mind if I went to bed? So I went to bed.” “But obviously he didn’t leave me alone. And then I woke up the next morning and realized what had happened.” She later told colleagues and the MP she was working for at the time, who encouraged her to report it to the police. After some initial discussions with the police, however, he chose not to proceed further and did not make a formal complaint to the Conservative party. She explained: “I was too scared to start this process and risk it getting out of hand.” He believes that “I can’t do anything without jeopardizing my career” and “ruining my life.” A Conservative spokesman said: “We have an established code of conduct and complaints procedure where people can report complaints in confidence. We take every complaint seriously.” A government spokesman said: “We take allegations of misconduct extremely seriously and there are strict procedures in place to raise concerns. “All ministerial appointments also follow established procedures.” Ministerial appointments are made by the prime minister, with the civil service unable to veto any decision. “The office he’ll be working in is full of women… and I thought he’d do it again” Sky News also spoke to a former Conservative aide who claimed she was groped by a senior Number 10 official before he was appointed to a top Downing Street job. The woman – who was working at Number 10 when she says the incident happened – made multiple complaints about his appointment, but he remains in the role. He said: “I heard he was going to get a job in Downing Street. I raised her with many people. “Nothing happened. Then I formally complained to the cabinet office. I just felt a responsibility to do it again, partly because the office he will be working in is full of women. And I just thought he would do it again.” He also claimed that upon hearing the claim, his boss – a close associate of the Prime Minister – dismissed him, on the grounds that the man was “handsome and had women flying at him”. Sky News confirmed these comments with another source who heard them directly. A Conservative spokesman said: “If an allegation of criminal wrongdoing is made, we would always advise the person to contact the police.” A government spokesman said: “All prospective civil servants are subject to necessary vetting and vetting. We do not comment on individuals.” Mr Johnson was asked, earlier this week, whether he had done enough to tackle sexual misconduct in politics, given the Conservatives have faced several scandals during his premiership. He replied: “All these things need to be handled carefully and sensitively, and we have procedures in place to deal with them. And those who have complaints should raise them in the normal way.” “Some of the most dangerous people are probably the last ones you would ever suspect” The allegations are part of a long-running Sky News investigation into the culture of Westminster which spans all political parties and has received evidence from staff, MPs and others about how allegations of sexual misconduct and bullying are dealt with at Westminster. Some of the interviewees suggested that while names of political figures to stay away were regularly circulated, often no action was taken and this tended to have little impact on their career development. Instead, many suggested that making a formal complaint about someone higher up in politics could damage their own job prospects. Image: Labor MP Charlotte Nichols: Pic: House of Parliament Labor MP Charlotte Nichols said: “To survive in Westminster you have to rely on this network of whispers. “Eventually. It’s never going to be 100% effective. You know, some of the most dangerous people are probably the last people you’d ever suspect.” She also recounted her own experience of misconduct by a senior MP. “I have been repeatedly proposed to by an MP who is old enough to be my grandfather and sometimes in front of other colleagues who have either laughed it off or said nothing when he did it. “I know from talking to other people that, you know, this is not unusual behavior for him … It’s something that he clearly feels emboldened to do, that he feels entitled to do.” “Basically, if it’s not rape, it’s fine” Sky News also spoke to a former SNP staffer who reported an MP, Patrick Grady, to Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) – the body set up in 2018 to deal with harassment and bullying. Image: Patrick Grady MP. Photo: Parliament His complaint was upheld and Mr Grady was found to have made unwanted sexual projections towards him and was suspended from the House of Commons for two days. The victim claimed that after the year-long investigation he felt he had to leave his job because it became a “non-role with no work to do and no route back to normal”. He also claimed that Westminster SNP leader Ian Blackford had mishandled the incident over a number of years. He said: “Ian’s handling of it made everything much worse. And his failure to take responsibility for it. You know, it’s not just shocking, it’s disappointing, but it puts every SNP staff member working for him at risk. “ A spokesman for the SNP Westminster caucus said: “The SNP takes all complaints seriously and the caucus has fully accepted and implemented the recommendations of the ICGS – the parliament’s fully independent complaints process. “The person concerned has been offered support throughout the process and we have also launched a review of staff support to look at any improvements that could be made.” Speaking about the culture of Westminster, the former SNP staffer said: “There is a line of tolerance. You’re allowed to grope someone on the bum, you might be allowed to stick your finger down someone’s throat, maybe you can kiss them without consent, but you are not allowed to rush them. “And to me that’s despicable and appalling, but it really shows the culture within Westminster and how people view this kind of thing… basically if it’s not rape, it’s fine.” “We take allegations of misconduct very seriously” A House of Commons spokesman said: “Bullying, harassment and sexual harassment have absolutely no place in parliament. “The code of conduct makes clear the standards of behavior expected of everyone in parliament – whether staff, members’ staff, members of the House of Lords, MPs or visitors. “Parliament’s Independent Whistleblowing and Complaints Scheme was created to enable anyone in the parliamentary community to report bullying, harassment and sexual harassment in confidence. “We want to make sure that everyone who works here feels able to report such cases. We know that currently there are still barriers to this happening – and that there is still work to be done to ensure that everyone is treated with the respect and dignity they deserve .” In The Open Secret, a three-part podcast series from Sky News, political correspondent Liz Bates reveals what else is kept hidden in the corridors of power. He hears from others who were afraid to speak up and finds out why issues like these are rarely addressed properly. Click to subscribe to The Open Secret wherever you get your podcasts
