Ban jeering in parliament to end ‘old boy’s club’ culture, report suggests
Booing and jeering should be banned in the House of Commons to create a more “respectful” environment, a report has suggested.
Job sharing for MPs – where two people represent a constituency instead of one – should also be considered to allow more women to be elected to parliament.
At the 2024 general election, 263 women were elected to the House of Commons out of a total of 650 MPs. At 40%, it was the highest-ever proportion of women MPs – but below the 51% needed to reflect the national male-female split.
The report, by 50:50 Parliament and Compassion in Politics, called for a “reset” of the culture in Westminster, which it likened to an “old boys club” where abuse and intimidating behaviour are commonplace.
It said Prime Minister’s Questions, the weekly slot where the prime minster is quizzed by the leader of the Opposition, resembled a “school playground”, which “undermined” the authority of MPs while potentially putting people off politics.
It said an immediate ban on booing and jeering would be “totemic” and would help provide a good example of behaviour to the public.
Meanwhile, job sharing for MPs – previously suggested by the Green Party and former Labour MP John McDonnell – would foster a greater work-life balance.
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The findings come after Sky News reported last month that newly elected MPs were struggling to set up offices in their constituencies due to fears for their safety and spiralling rents.
Several MPs who spoke to Sky News said they believed landlords were becoming increasingly reluctant to have them as tenants due to the perceived risks that came with the job – including threats of vandalism and protests.
They said that as a result, they felt less able to be visible in their communities and to their constituents.
As part of the report, which has the support of former home secretary Amber Rudd and Labour’s former head of communications, Alastair Campbell, the 132 MPs who stood down at the last election were handed a survey, to which only 24 responded.
Of those who responded, one in three said the levels of abuse they received as an MP had been a factor in deciding to resign, while another third cited the impact the role has had on their mental well-being.
Over half said they needed to step down because of the impact the job had on their family life – including fear for their well-being, safety and the safety of others.
The constituency office of Labour MP Jo Stevens was vandalised last year.
One former MP and minister told the researchers they had a nervous breakdown during their time in parliament.
“It’s been the most extreme experience of my life,” they said.
“The highs are wonderful. The lows are miserable. There’s very little in between. The collapse of public respect makes it an impossible job for the MP and their family. I had a nervous breakdown after my candidacy and again as a minister.”
Another former MP described parliament as an “uncontrolled playground of abuse”.
“Parliament is still run like a gentleman’s club, but the standards of the 19th century gentleman have disappeared.
“Bullying and manipulation are normalised and expected. And there are far too many staffers learning bad habits like drinking at work. The whole palace is out of control and the most depressing place I’ve ever worked.”
Other recommendations put forward by the report include that there should be a ban on lying in parliament as a means to improve the public’s trust in politicians, which it said was at an “all-time low”.
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It cited a number of scandals that have damaged the public’s perception of politicians, including partygate, the 2010 expenses scandal and the instances where MPs have been accused of or found guilty of sexual abuse or bullying, harassment and intimidation.
More recently, Labour has been rocked by rows over freebies, with the party now leading the Conservatives by just one point, according to a poll published last month.
The report also suggested a review of the whipping system in parliament – the means by which MPs are encouraged and persuaded to vote along party lines and follow the leadership’s orders – to “root out bullying”.
The report will be handed to parliament’s modernisation committee, which was promised in Labour’s manifesto and is tasked with reforming House of Commons procedures and driving up standards.
UK
Masked burglars ‘raid’ Windsor Castle grounds ‘while William, Kate and children slept at home on estate’
Masked burglars have stolen farm vehicles from the Windsor Castle estate while members of the Royal Family are believed to have been asleep nearby.
Two men scaled a 6ft fence on the night of 13 October and used a stolen truck to break through a security gate, The Sun first reported.
The pair then fled with a pick-up and a quad bike that were stored in a barn.
The King and Queen were not in residence.
But the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three children George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Louis were believed to have been in their home, Adelaide Cottage, on the estate, according to The Sun.
The family moved there in 2022.
In a statement, Thames Valley Police said: “At around 11.45pm on Sunday 13 October, we received a report of burglary at a property on Crown Estate land near to the A308 in Windsor.
“Offenders entered a farm building and made off with a black Isuzu pick-up and a red quad bike. They then made off towards the Old Windsor/Datchet area.
“No arrests have been made at this stage and an investigation is ongoing.”
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On Christmas Day 2021, a man climbed a fence at Windsor Castle armed with a crossbow and claimed he wanted to kill Queen Elizabeth II.
Jaswant Singh Chail was handed a nine-year custodial sentence for treason, possession of an offensive weapon and making threats to kill.
The UK is braced for “disruptive snow” as yellow weather warnings cover large parts of the country until Tuesday – with the Met Office saying there is the “potential” for the alerts to be “escalated”.
The forecaster has warned up to 20cm of snow may accumulate in the worst affected areas as the country experiences its “first taste of winter”.
The Met Office has also told people to expect ice, cold temperatures and wintry showers this week.
Check the forecast in your area
A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place for much of the north of the country – covering areas in the East Midlands, Yorkshire, Wales and the north of England – from 7pm on Monday night to 10am on Tuesday morning.
Those in the impacted areas have been told power cuts are possible and mobile phone coverage might be affected.
The Met Office has said there is a “slight chance” some rural communities could be cut off and that bus and train services may be delayed or cancelled.
People are also warned to be careful not to slip or fall on icy surfaces.
The Met Office has said there will be bright spells across northern and eastern areas throughout today, but rain in the south and west will gradually spread northeastwards and turn to snow over northern hills.
Parts of the UK are experiencing their ‘first taste of winter’, says the Met Office. File pic: PA
Tom Morgan, Met Office meteorologist, said: “We could see some disruptive snow in the Pennine regions, in particular, the Peak District as well, especially Monday night, but we could well see some impacts lasting on until Tuesday morning’s rush hour.
“Even down to lower levels, we could well see some snow as well, so quite a bit of disruption possible by Tuesday morning, and then the week ahead is likely to stay cold nationwide, a windy day on Tuesday, and then winter showers through the week ahead.”
Mr Morgan said that despite a “mild” start to the month, the cold conditions are more typical of “mid-winter to late-winter”.
“What we can say is that it’s going to be very cold for the time of year, there will be widespread overnight frosts, and a few locations where there’s snow on the ground,” he continued.
The yellow weather warnings in place across the UK
Meanwhile, a yellow snow and ice weather warning that came into force at 4pm on Sunday will end at 11am this morning.
The warning covers the northern tip of Scotland and people there have been told there may be icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.
The Met Office has said there is “potential” for both yellow warnings to be “escalated”.
In southern England, a typical maximum temperature for this time of year is 11C (52F), but daytime highs for the week ahead are forecast to be around 5C (41F), while some parts of Scotland will reach “only just above freezing”, Mr Morgan said.
The meteorologist said the public can best prepare for the wintry weather by checking their cars are suitable for icy and potentially snowy conditions and to take extra supplies including food, blankets and a fully charged mobile phone with them on journeys.
He added there were “likely” to be changes to the weather warnings in the coming days, and that “winter flurries” could be seen in the south of England later in the week.
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Despite the cold conditions, the “whole of the UK” will enjoy more sunshine this week, the meteorologist added.
He said: “There’ll be some snow showers in the peripheries of the UK, particularly northern Scotland, and down the east and the west coast, but if you live inland and you live in the south, there’ll be lots of sparkly blue skies on the most days through Tuesday to Friday.”
It comes as a cold weather alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency, which was introduced at 9am on Sunday, will be in place until 9am on Thursday.
It covers a large area of England, north of Northhampton. The alert is triggered when there is a risk that healthcare services might face extra pressure and is designed to prepare those who are “particularly vulnerable” and “likely to struggle to cope”.
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