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MPs have never claimed there are no problems with sexual misconduct in Westminster, Conservative former cabinet minister Sir John Redwood has said.
Sir John was asked on Times Radio for how long politicians, MPs and the Government can claim there is not a cultural issue of sexual misconduct in Westminster.
I don’t think MPs have ever claimed that there are no problems with sexual misconduct – there have been some proven cases where MPs have behaved badly and have been rightly punished. And I think we all feel the same thing about it – it should not happen.
And there have to be proper complaints procedures, as there are, which should be followed rigorously and soundly, to get to the bottom of the truth of allegations.
There’s been a constant round of failures of leadership here, which has demonstrated a culture which needs to change.
We’ve been saying for some time that the processes need to improve. We’ve had a conversation with the Speaker; I think he wants to make improvements in the way these things are dealt with.
Sophisticated employers have processes and procedures to ensure that the rights of victims, [and] those [who] are the subject of complaints, are properly handled.
Now we have a new prime minister, potentially from Monday, and this is an opportunity to reset the culture and show the leadership that hasn’t been there in the past.
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