Conservative employees have been pressured not to sign a letter calling for tighter controls on those who want to become MPs in light of the current “pestminster” scandal, Sky News may reveal.
The letter, organized by Angus McVean and Henry Dixon-Clegg, is addressed to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Conservative Party President Oliver Dowden and House Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, and calls for changes in the way the candidates for parliament.
Sky News has seen reports of staff saying they are being pressured by the Conservative Campaign (CCHQ) headquarters not to sign the letter, as it would put a “black mark” on its name.
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Sky News has also seen messages from lawmakers to staff warning them that leader Chris Heaton-Harris knew who had signed the letter before sending it to the prime minister.
This, however, is disputed by the organizers of the letter, who say that it is not true that the big whip had seen the names of those who had signed the letter before publication.
In the exchanges seen by Sky News, the employees reveal that CCHQ, having not yet seen the letter, was calling the staff of the round, in an attempt to find out who was behind it and who had signed it, and it was said that they were petrified by perspective. of a letter like that.
It is believed that more than five staff members did not sign the letter due to pressure from whips or the CCHQ, and some staff members told the CCHQ that it would be better to meet directly with the party to raise these concerns instead. to send a message. public letter that may attract more media attention.
In the letter, McVean and Dixon-Clegg said that “serious allegations of illegal behavior are treated as mere gossip” and that “a culture of gossip and rumors has allowed tolerance and acceptance of abuse during too much time”.
The couple goes on to say that a “culture of indifference and fear” is the root cause of abuse in parliament.
A senior Conservative MP told Sky News that they had “heard countless stories of MPs harassing their staff” and that “there is a culture where junior staff are treated like rubbish” because of the rightful sentiment of some deputies.
Another Conservative MP told Sky News that they were surprised that more employees had not signed the letter and that it was “embarrassing” and “horrible” that they were being pressured not to sign.
GMB union chairwoman Jenny Symmons told Sky News: “This is an important step for Conservative employees to take. This letter shows that challenging culture in parliament is an issue between parties and that people across the political spectrum are demanding better from our politicians. “
This comes at a time when Westminster has become saturated with stories of sexual misconduct and misconduct that affect not only the Conservative Party but also parties across the political spectrum.
More recently, a Conservative MP has faced allegations of alcohol consumption for sexually assaulting his victims, a Conservative MP was recently arrested for rape, another Conservative, Imran Ahmad Khan, was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison for sexually assaulting a child, and former Conservative MP Neil Parish was found to have seen porn in the House of Commons while at work.
These revelations call into question the culture within parliament and whether enough is being done to protect those who work in it.
A spokesman for the main whip said: “The chief has met with Conservative employees who have organized the letter and offered to work with them.
“The Whips Office values the work of all members of Parliament and will always work to ensure that they are cared for in parliament.”
A CCHQ spokesman said: “The claim that the CCHQ tried to dissuade people from signing this letter is categorically false.
“No such calls were made and the first time CCHQ became aware of the letter was when it appeared on social media.”