Caroline Nokes says Westminster culture of ‘victim-shaming and blaming’ allows sexual harassment

A senior MP has said Parliament should not use the criminal bar of what constitutes sexual assault if it is to tackle inappropriate behaviour.

Caroline Nokes, chair of the women and equalities select committee, told i that there is a culture of “victim shaming and blaming” in Westminster that is leaving MPs and other staff free to continue their behaviour.

The Conservative MP said that while the situation had improved in recent years: “I still observe colleagues acting inappropriately on occasion.”

Her comments come as former deputy government whip Chris Pincher was recommended for an eight week suspension from the Commons for groping two men in a private members’ club last year.

Ms Nokes said: “One of the challenges we have is that there is a real high bar of what people in parliament will put up with.

“The stark reality for me is that I’ve never gone to the ICGS [independent complaints body] because, do I think making a lewd comment and somebody inappropriately patting my backside is worth going to them for? No, no I don’t. And that’s a terrible situation if they do have a complaint.

“We have to stop looking at the criminal bar of sexual assault as being the threshold of what behaviour would be acceptable. That’s clearly way too high a bar and I worry we’re all becoming inured to behaviour that wouldn’t be tolerated in other workplaces.

“I think parliament should hold itself to a higher standards than another workplace and I don’t think it’s even approaching that. Do I think parliament holds itself to a lower standard? Yes, yes I do.”

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A string of MPs are currently suspended and under investigation over claims of sexually inappropriate behaviour.

Pincher was said to have groped two young Conservative party aides at the exclusive Carlton Club last July.

Ms Nokes said that only “exceptionally brave” victims feel able to come forward, with many fearing that their own political aspirations will be curtailed by speaking out.

She said: “Sexual assault I like to think is rare. What worries me is that there is a culture in this place of victim shaming and blaming. Of dismissing inappropriate behaviour as just a bit of banter. To be really honest I am sick to the back teeth of the banter defence.

“I want to think it’s not particularly widespread, and then you see case after case emerging. Its only the exceptionally brave that ever speak out, and all too often the victims bare the brunt of speaking out.”

She added: “I still observe colleagues acting inappropriately on occasion. But any colleague who behaved that way to me knows I would speak out immediately.

“But colleagues still do and say things that would not be accepted in any other workplace.”