A day after Conservative MP Neil Parish resigned from watching pornography in the Commons, and as even more allegations of seemingly endemic sexual harassment surfaced, a former Tories minister said Kwasi Kwarteng’s comments “rejected and downplayed” women. Labor warned that a toxic culture in Westminster had been exacerbated by Downing Street inaction, and their deputy leader, Angela Reiner, wrote to Boris Johnson about reports that at a No. 10 Christmas party he was “married”. Kwarteng, the secretary of operations, was widely criticized for rejecting the idea of inherent sexism in parliament, arguing that the problems were caused mainly by long hours and overwork, and that very few lawmakers violated them. “I do not think there is a culture of bigotry,” he told Sky News. “I think the problem we have is that people work in a really intense environment, there are a lot of hours and I think in general, most people know their limits.” Speaking to Times Radio later, he said the problem was “some bad apples” that need to be punished, adding: “But that does not mean that the whole culture is extremely half-hearted or full of masculinity. I do not recognize that. “ Caroline Nokes, a former Tory minister who chairs the Commons Committee on Women and Equality, said Kwarteng’s view was contrary to that of many lawmakers. “Colleagues shared examples of the attacks and petty attacks they face on a daily basis and it was rejected by a senior cabinet member as a result of long hours of work,” he said. “Once again, the experiences of women MPs are rejected and underestimated. That in itself is a classic example of institutional sexism. “ Wendy Chamberlain, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, said Kwarteng was “deluding himself”. He said: “It’s not a few bad apples, it’s a culture that is rotten to the core. “In the same week that two of his MPs resigned and his colleagues complained, the worst he can do is humiliate and reject it.” Keir Starmer argued that in a series of cases of misconduct, the government either tried to ignore the issue or delay any vigorous action, saying that “their first instinct is to push it into the long grass, to hide what is happening.” “This is a political problem, because a fish is rotting from the head, and there must be political leadership in that as well,” he told Sky News. “And we have not seen it yet from the Conservative Party.” Subscribe to the First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7 p.m. BST Senior Tories were pushing for more women MPs, but Kwarteng said he was not a “quota supporter” to increase their numbers. Speaking on LBC radio on Sunday, Labor MP Chris Bryant said that when he was first elected in 2001, he was “regularly accustomed to older, senior gay – not out – MPs”, adding: “I never felt he could he mentions it because you are finally part of the story, that’s the last thing you want. “ The Sunday Times reported a number of allegations, including that a lawmaker was accused of licking the faces of male investigators in bars. that a female Tory MP was sent a “photo” by a colleague. and that another MP had been warned about the use of sex workers. The speaker of the Communities, Lindsay Hoyle, suggested that one way to protect staff would be to change the current system in which Members employ their staff directly, rather than centrally. He said he was considering an outside body to assist assistants as he set out to organize a “speaker conference” that would bring MPs together to discuss a general overhaul. In Rainer’s letter to Johnson, he asked for details of another allegation in the Sunday Times that a Downing Street party member was awarded the Sexist of the Year award at a December 2020 party. Reiner also wondered if this had been reported to Sue Gray, a senior civil servant investigating alleged anti-lockdown rallies in parallel with a police investigation. “You have argued in the archive this week that ‘there is no place’ for sexism in politics, and yet there are now serious and credible allegations in the Sunday Times that sexist behavior has not only taken place in your office, but has been celebrated and rewarded.” wrote Reiner. “You are ultimately responsible for the culture and activity that takes place on Downing Street under your management. “If they are true, these allegations not only contradict your stated opposition to sexism, but they are a formidable example and should lead to further action.” The turmoil over institutionalized sexism in politics began a week ago with a highly critical Mail on Sunday report citing anonymous Tory lawmakers that Rainer would cross and cross her legs during the prime minister’s questions to divert attention. by Boris Johnson. The newspaper defended its own week, insisting that Rainer was the source of the anecdote and that it had been unjustly targeted by rivals of the free press. A Labor source said: “The vicious hint that Angela Reiner started the sexist slanders against her must be a sick joke.” Paris’s departure will pave the way for a run-off election in the safe havens of Tories, Tiverton and Honiton, and is still under investigation by the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS). It was the latest in a series of catastrophic developments that have plagued the Commons in recent weeks. Senior Labor MP Liam Byrne is set to be suspended by the Commons for two days for intimidating a staff member. David Warburton withdrew the Conservative whip after allegations of sexual harassment and cocaine use surfaced. and former Tories Imran Ahmad Khan resigned after being convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy. The ICGS told lawmakers it “sees a similar trend” to last year, when cases against 15 lawmakers began.
