Yahoo News 'Sex pest MPs' named by women staff in Westminster WhatsApp scandal
A fresh scandal threatens to engulf Westminster after it emerged that government ministers were named on a secret WhatsApp group of sex pest politicians by parliamentary female staff.
Women aides, secretaries and researchers have used the app to share horror stories about their politician bosses, reported The Sun.
The claims on WhatsApp include MPs having sex in their Houses of Parliament offices with staff, a ‘groping’ Cabinet minister who attacked staff during drinks parties and even one politician demanding staff to buy sex toys as presents.
They also allege MPs groping staff in Westminster lifts and one minister is branded ‘Not Safe In Taxis’ because of his wandering hands.
Prime Minister Theresa May called the claims ‘deeply concerning’.
In a statement, Downing Street said the PM took the allegations ‘extremely seriously’.
It comes in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal which has rocked Hollywood.
And earlier this week, a Labour MP was suspended for calling a woman he dated an ‘ugly b****’.
Those responsible allegedly include MPs from across the political divide.
The claims include one Labour MP being dubbed the ‘Disco King’, who was said to have groped a woman on a foreign trip.
So far none of the politicians have been named, but the sensational claims could bring down some MPs by the weekend, warned the newspaper.
The Weinstein sex revelations have prompted the #MeToo social media phenomenon which has seen women around the world speak out about sexual harassment.
One member of the WhatsApp group told The Sun: ‘The usual old suspects are there but there have been some surprising younger names crop up.’
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Another said: ‘For years we have all looked out for each other. It’s like, ‘So-and-so is hiring, but it can’t be a woman for him”.’
The claims could have potential ramifications for the Conservative government, which has lost its majority following this year’s General Election and is propped up in power by the DUP.
The claims came after Labour MP John Mann earlier this week declared he was ready to use parliamentary privilege to name and shame a party colleague who treated a young woman ‘appallingly’.
Two female Tory grandees – Baroness Jenkin and Maria Miller – have also spoken out about abuse received by women in Westminster.
Miller said she had ‘experienced far more sexual harassment as an MP than in my 20-year career in advertising and marketing’ and added it was ‘not a thing of the past’.
