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.
Politics latest: PM has ‘no plans’ to meet Taliban at climate summit
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”.
Read more:
Labour ‘blinded by class warfare’ over VAT plans
Farmers ‘could block ports and disrupt food supply’
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.
A 53-year-old man has been charged after a car was driven into a crowd at Liverpool FC’s trophy parade.
Paul Doyle, from the West Derby area of Liverpool, has been charged with seven offences, Merseyside Police said.
The businessman, who is a father-of-three, is accused of two counts of unlawful and malicious wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and two counts of causing unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Paul Doyle
Doyle is also accused of two counts of attempted unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and one count of dangerous driving.
He is due to appear before Liverpool Magistrates Court on Friday.
The charges relate to six people, including two children. A wounding charge and an attempted grievous bodily harm charge relate to a child.
A police car was outside Doyle’s four-bedroom detached family home in the West Derby area on Thursday morning.
According to his social media, he has travelled extensively including Japan, Fiji, India and Australia. Doyle has posted pictures of himself competing in triathlons, and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
New Liverpool incident footage
Thousands of fans were gathered in Liverpool city centre on Monday to celebrate the Premier League champions’ title win when a car struck a crowd on Water Street.
Police said a total of 79 people were injured in the incident, with the youngest aged nine, and the oldest being a 78-year-old.
Seven people remain in hospital in a stable condition.
Forensic officers at the scene in Water Street. Pic: PA
‘Huge volume of evidence’
Chief crown prosecutor for the CPS Mersey-Cheshire, Sarah Hammond, told a news conference on Thursday that the investigation was at an early stage and a “huge volume of evidence” was being reviewed.
“This includes multiple pieces of video footage and numerous witness statements. It is important to ensure that every victim gets the justice they deserve.
“The charges will be kept under review as the investigation progresses.”
Police ‘working tirelessly’
Also at the briefing where the charges were announced was Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Jenny Sims, who said: “I fully understand how this incident has left us all shocked and saddened, and I know many will continue to have concerns and questions.
“Our detectives are working tirelessly, with diligence and professionalism, to seek the answer to all of those questions. When we are able to, we will provide further information.”
The youngest victim injured in the Liverpool parade crash on Monday is nine years old, police have said.
They added that the oldest is 78, with all 79 people injured understood to be British. Seven remain in hospital in a stable condition.
Merseyside Police declined to say what drug the 53-year-old man arrested over the incident is alleged to have taken.
“We wouldn’t go into this detail at this stage of the investigation,” the force said.
Police at the scene in Liverpool. Pic: AP
Forensic officers in Water Street. Pic: PA
Police are still questioning the driver and were granted further time to do so on Wednesday.
Officers have until Thursday evening to question the man from West Derby.
He is in custody on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving and drug driving.
Police believe the car which struck pedestrians was able to follow an ambulance crew attending to someone suffering a heart attack after a road block was temporarily lifted.
Hundreds of thousands of Liverpool fans had turned out to celebrate their team’s Premier League title when the incident unfolded on Water Street just after 6pm on Monday.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
‘My boy in his pram, got bounced’
‘The best day of my life turned into worst’
Sky News interviewed a lifelong Liverpool fan who said his five-month-old son was “bounced” 15ft (4.6m) in his pram after they were hit by the vehicle.
The child was not counted in the police’s injury tally.
Daniel Eveson, 36, also said his partner had been driven over.
“The best day of my life turned into [the] worst,” Mr Eveson said.
He added: “Me and my partner were flat on the roof, on the bonnet… we were just both trying to hold on for dear life with Ted next to us.
“And my partner went under the wheels of the car, of the front of the car, and it rolled over her leg, and I just bounced off to the side, but my boy and his pram got bounced totally in the opposite direction – about 15ft down the road.”
Read more:
How the parade crash unfolded
Police given more time to question Liverpool suspect
Why police released ‘unprecedented’ details
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Liverpool to meet with police chiefs and the local metro mayor.
He said he was being kept informed of developments, adding: “The scenes on Monday were just awful, to see how incredible joy at an amazing achievement turned to horror in a moment.”
Messages of support have been sent to the people of Liverpool, including from the King who said: “I know that the strength of community spirit for which your city is renowned will be a comfort and support to those in need.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales said they were “deeply saddened” by the incident.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway