Sex allegations mount in British politics following Weinstein, Spacey accusations

A NUMBER of Westminster MPs have been named in a ‘dirty dossier’ of allegations as the UK parliament is embroiled in a growing sex scandal.

Prime Minister Theresa May has announced her office would look into the conduct of her deputy after claims he touched a journalists knee.

A NUMBER of Westminster MPs have become embroiled in a growing scandal over alleged sexual harassment following accusations against Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey.

On Wednesday, a young Labour Party activist said she was raped by an unnamed party member and another woman said she was assaulted by an MP.

Bex Bailey, a former member of Labour’s governing body, the National Executive Committee, said she was 19 years old when she was raped at a party event in 2011.

She told BBC Radio 4 that two years after the crime, which she did not report to police out of fear and shame, she confided in a senior party official.

“I told a senior member of staff, who told me, it was suggested to me that I not report it.

“I was told that if I did it might damage me,” said Bailey, who described her attacker as a senior person within the party who was not an MP.

The allegation is the most serious case of sexual assault raised since Prime Minister Theresa May called on Sunday for tougher rules on MPs’ conduct.

Her intervention came after an internal government probe was launched into behaviour by junior trade minister Mark Garnier, who made lewd remarks to a former aide and asked her to buy him sex toys.

Defence Minister Michael Fallon has also come under scrutiny for putting his hand on a journalist’s knee in 2002, an incident he will not be investigated for.

“I don’t believe there is a complaint that has been made against him ... It’s right that he’s apologised,” May’s spokesman said.

It came after he woman in question, broadcaster Julia Hartley Brewer said she told Fallon at the time to remove his hand or she would “punch him in the face.” She has since said she does not consider the incident sexual harassment.

Britain's Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has been named after placing his hand on a journalist’s knee. She has since said her knees are ‘in tact’ and she did not consider it harassment. Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images.

MPS NAMED IN DOSSIER

British media have reported on the existence of a list of allegations of around 40 MPs from May’s Conservative Party, including six ministers, that was apparently compiled by disgruntled former employees.

Most of the names on the list have been redacted, however some have reportedly been included despite consensual relationships. A senior Conservative Party official said legal action is being considered however the person behind the list — referred to as a “dirty dossier” in the media — remained unknown.

As rumours swirled in Westminster about behaviour by politicians, another woman came forward on Tuesday to say she was sexually assaulted by an MP during a foreign work trip.

“He was quite insistent on me sitting on the bed, at which point I really didn’t feel comfortable, to the point where he pushed me on the bed and held me by the shoulders and tried to kiss me,” the woman, whose real name has not been published, told ITV News.

She said she reported the incident to British police and parliamentary authorities but “evidence would suggest there was absolutely no action taken”.

ITV News reported that police interviewed the MP, who denies the allegation, but could not take further action because the incident happened abroad.

Britain’s Cabinet Office will investigate allegations made against Garnier by his former secretary Caroline Edmondson, that he breached conduct rules by asking his secretary to buy sex toys. Picture: Tim Goode/PA via AP.

The Times journalist Kate Maltby also revealed her alleged treatment by deputy Prime Minister Damian Green, who she said “felt a fleeting hand against my knee, so brief it was almost deniable.”

The first secretary of state said he “strongly denies” allegations and found them “deeply hurtful.”

“It is absolutely and completely untrue that I’ve ever made any sexual advances on Ms Maltby” he said.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has ordered an investigation into the claims, with her office saying they would “establish the facts and report back as soon as possible.”

On Monday the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, condemned “recent disturbing allegations about a culture of sexual harassment at Westminster” and urged political parties to swiftly address the issue.

At the start of an emergency debate on the issue attended by the prime minister, Bercow said there must be “zero tolerance of sexual harassment or bullying”