Female MP says she was 'pinned against wall' by male colleague with 'wandering hands'

A female MP has said she was pinned to a wall by a male colleague who had "wandering hands" and had been "at the sharp end of misogyny" on numerous occasions.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan told LBC's Nick Ferrari: "Well we might describe it as wandering hands if you like, we might describe it as, a number of years ago being pinned up against a wall by a male MP who is now no longer in the House, I'm pleased to say, declaring that I must want him because he was a powerful man.

“These sorts of things, the power abuses that a very small minority thank goodness of male colleagues show is completely unacceptable.

“We’ve made real progress in both calling it out and indeed supporting those who are starting to feel they can come forward.”

The trade secretary added she had experienced "wandering hands" from "half a dozen" of her Parliamentary male colleagues - including some who were "repeat offenders".

She added: "Fundamentally, if you're a bloke, keep your hands in your pockets and behave as you would if you had your daughter in the room”.

Her admission comes amid a wider discussion on MPs conduct within the Commons, as it was revealed 56 - or 16% of MPs - are currently under investigation for sexual misconduct.

Further allegations have been made that a government frontbencher watched pornographic footage while sitting next to a female MP in the House of Commons.

Speaking to Sky News Trevelyan said most of her male colleagues were "committed parliamentarians".

"But there are a few for whom too much drink, or indeed a sort of, a view that somehow being elected makes them you know, God's gift to women, that they can suddenly please themselves, that is never OK, that kind of behaviour, disrespect for women”, she added.

When asked about the MP caught watching porn she said: “I haven't had the chance to talk to the chief whip, and I know the ladies in question who apparently saw this completely, completely inappropriate activity have been encouraged to use the formal system in the House of Commons to be able to report it and I hope very much that they will or indeed have, I don't know, and that the system will demonstrate if that was the case, exactly what the punishment should be for that sort of inappropriate behaviour".

Watch: Watching porn in the Commons is totally unacceptable

Boris Johnson’s spokesman said sexual harassment “cannot be tolerated” following allegations.

Speaking during prime minister's questions on Wednesday, Johnson told MPs that sexual harassment is grounds for direct dismissal under the ministerial code when challenged over the reports.

“Sexual harassment is intolerable and it’s quite right that members should now have a procedure by which they can bring that to the attention of the highest authorities," the prime minister said.

Johnson's spokesperson rejected suggestions that sexual harassment is an issue within the Conservative party.