Labor MP Charlotte Nichols steps up attack on her own party for not acting fast enough on alleged sex pests
- She said ‘Labour should and could be better’ at handling allegations
Yesterday Labor MP Charlotte Nichols stepped up her attack on her own party for failing to act quickly enough against alleged sex parasites.
She told the Mail on Sunday that ‘Labour should and could be better’ at dealing with the serious allegations against its own MPs.
The complaint comes after Labor MP Geraint Davies was suspended last week over what the party said were allegations of “totally unacceptable behaviour”.
Two formal complaints against the MP for Swansea West have now been made, although he said he did not acknowledge the allegations made against him.
Warrington North MP Ms Nichols said last week the party had ‘chosen not to act’ against other MPs before.
Charlotte Nichols (pictured) told the Mail on Sunday that ‘Labour should and could be better’ at dealing with the serious allegations against its own MPs
The row comes as MPs prepare to vote later this month on formally banning any colleague facing ‘credible’ allegations of sexual abuse from Westminster Parliamentary Estate.
Originally, the House of Commons was to consider plans to ban any MP who had been formally charged by the police with an offence.
But sources told this newspaper last night that the proposal was now likely to be made much tougher – with the threshold for a ban lowered to anyone facing a credible charge of serious misconduct.
It would involve a “risk-based approach” in which a panel of experts would assess whether an accused MP posed a threat to others on the estate. However, it is also proposed that the new scheme will initially last for a trial period of 18 months.
Last night sources close to Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt strongly denied arguing for a much lower threshold for the ban once an MP has been formally charged.
Under current arrangements, MPs suspected of sex pests voluntarily stay out of the Commons, normally at the private request of the Speaker.
Even under the stricter ban proposals, affected politicians would still be entitled to proxy votes while their cases are being investigated.
Labor was approached last night for a comment.