New probe into sexual harassment and bullying dished out by MPs and peers

A new inquiry into bullying and sexual harassment meted out by MPs and peers is expected to be ‘bigger and more explosive’ than the landmark Cox report.

Ministers believe hundreds of researchers and aides who worked for politicians in Parliament over the years could come forward to expose abuse.

The inquiry is being launched as the second part of a major investigation exposing bullying and sexual predators in the corridors of power.

It comes after Dame Laura Cox QC published the results of her probe into the abuse suffered by staff employed directly by the House of Commons, such as clerks.

A new inquiry into bullying and sexual harassment meted out by MPs and peers is expected to be ‘bigger and more explosive’ than the landmark Cox report

Commons Speaker John Bercow has been accused of bullying and come under acute pressure since the first inquiry into harassment

The damning report heard from 200 staff members past and present and exposed a ‘toxic’ culture of bullying and sexual harassment which had festered for years.

She lashed the ‘institutional failings’ in the Commons and warned a culture of ‘deference, subservience, acquiescence and silence’ has helped to cover up abuse

The second investigation, which will also be led by a QC, will look at the sexual harassment and bullying suffered by aides working directly for MPs and peers.

Sources close to the investigation – set up in the wake of the sexminster scandal which rocked Parliament – said they expect the number coming forward to tell their stories of abuse will top 200.

What are the claims of bullying and bad behaviour made against John Bercow?

John Bercow has been hit by a number of bullying claims, all of which he denies. Here are the allegations:

Andrew Sinclair, the former Speaker’s Secretary:

Said he left his post in 2010 after he was subjected to angry outbursts, foul- mouthed tirades and mimicry by John Bercow.

He said was ‘gagged’ and stopped from speaking out about his time in the role as part of an £86,000 early retirement payoff.

David Leakey, former Black Rod:

Mr Leakey, who retired last year, said staff were ‘terrified’ of the Speaker.

Kate Emms, John Bercow’s former private secretary:

She took a job as Mr Bercow’s private secretary in May 2010 but left her role less than a year later in February 2011 amid claims she was bullied by the Speaker.

Her colleagues alleged that this was because of the behaviour of Mr Bercow after she told staff that she suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Colleagues told Newsnight that she was undermined by Mr Bercow in a range of ways – and he seemed to shout at her a lot.

One source close to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) – set up investigate abuse – told the MailOnline: ‘We expect it to be bigger and more explosive than the Cox report.’

They added: ‘Laura Cox revealed the shocking shortcomings in support for House staff, but we know there had been a similar problem for MP’s staff too, who have an entirely different employment arrangement.

‘The new independent inquiry will provide us with a fuller picture of historical cases and contribute to the ongoing culture change we need to see in Parliament.’

Officials are set to launch an appeal shortly for anyone who has suffered harassment while working for a politician to come forward.

Andrea Leadsom, Cabinet minister and leader of the Commons, is set to unveil details of the inquiry to MPs in the Commons on Monday.

Parliament has been left reeling from a flood of allegations of sex attacks, harassment and abuse exposed in the past 12 months.

Women have told how they were groped by MPs who called them names and repeatedly propositioned them for sex.

Tory Cabinet ministers and Labour MPs have all been caught up in the scandal.

Sir Micheal Fallon quit as defence secretary after he was accused of making inappropriate sexual passes at women during his parliamentary career.

Damian Green was ousted as the PM’s deputy after he was found to have made misleading statements about allegations that he looked at porn on his office computers.

He was also accused of making a sexual pass at Tory activist and classicist Kate Maltby, who is 30 years his junior.

In her excoriating report published last month, Dame Laura Cox (pictured) said male MPs past and present have allegedly lunged, groped and propositioned women in Westminster

Several Labour MPs were also accused of inappropriate sexual conduct, including Kelvin Hopkins who was suspended from the party over claims he sexually harassed a young party activist.

While Commons Speaker John Bercow has been hit by a string of bullying claims – which he strongly denies.

In a damning indictment of the culture at the heart of Westminster, Dame Laura said there is a ‘palpable lack of protection’ for those who dare to report sexual harassment or bullying.

The next inquiry is expected to last many months and shine a spotlight on how politicians sitting in the Commons and the Lords have treated their staff.

Report finds that ‘boorish’ male MPs groped and propositioned women

‘Boorish’ male MPs groped, lunged and propositioned women in Parliament, a damning report into the sexminster scandal has today revealed.

Dame Laura Cox said many MPs will be ‘horrified’ at the conduct of their colleagues.

Some male politicians were guilty of ‘predatory’ behaviour, the judge said.

Women who worked in Westminster complained that male MPs had touched their bottoms and breasts, patted their heads and had been abused in ‘vulgar gender-related terms’.

Dame Laura said: ‘The most serious allegations related to the alleged ‘predatory’ conduct of a few individuals, but overall the allegations indicate that sexual harassment has been a more widespread problem, and it crosses the political sphere.

‘All of the allegations were made against men. Some are no longer in the House but others continue to serve as elected Members.’

Some male MPs were so well known for their lewd advances that women were privately warned never to be in a room alone with them, the report said.

She added: ‘There were reports too of groups of male MPs becoming increasingly boorish on occasions when they were together, of frequent sexual innuendos, lewd comments or sexual gestures, or women repeatedly being asked questions about their sex lives, or about their personal lives generally, which they found offensive and humiliating.’

Dame Laura added: ‘Some men who came forward spoke of witnessing ‘some atrocious treatment of young women by MPs,’ and of ‘some women being treated as their personal servants, with veiled threats to have them moved if they failed to comply with requests.’

‘Some men also spoke of their shame, looking back now, that they had stayed silent at the time when such incidents occurred, and that they had not done more to help.’

Parliament was dominated by a ‘macho’ culture which saw some male employees – including some ‘serial predators’ – also target women.

The report states: ‘Young women graduates in their first job have been particularly shocked and upset by such treatment when ‘running the gauntlet’ in this way.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk