Commons Speaker rebukes MPs for unruly behaviour at PMQs in wake of harassment scandal
1 min read
John Bercow has issued a stark warning to MPs that unruly behaviour in the Commons will no longer be tolerated in the wake of the Westminster harassment scandal.
The Speaker urged his colleagues to consider the “huge number of people” watching the exchanges and “behave properly” in a bid to show that parliament's culture had improved.
Mr Bercow referred to a recent report in which Westminster’s harassment issues were laid bare.
It found that one in five people working in parliament had experienced or witnessed sexual harassment or inappropriate behaviour over the past year.
It also recommended a new code of conduct and tougher sanctions for those found to have bullied or abused staff.
Mr Bercow said today: “The discussions here at PMQs should bear some resemblance to what the House is saying in relation to culture.
“We have recently had a report on harassment. Let’s try to behave properly in these sessions, listening to the answers and listening to the questions.
“Both sides of the House have got to try to wake up the reality that… huge numbers of people outside this place disapprove of this sort of behaviour, on both sides – stop it.”
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