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Three male MSPs have been accused of “creepy” behaviour towards women amid claims that sexual harassment is “rife” at all levels in Holyrood.

Female politicians from different parties named the three men and their identities are now an open secret at Holyrood. They accused them of intimidating behaviour, making unwanted sexual advances and telling lewd jokes.

One woman MSP said: “It is rife. And it isn’t just between staff and their employees – it is male

MSPs towards younger female MSPs. And it cuts across party divides.”

Multiple sources said it was a longstanding problem that was only now being talked about in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, which has rocked Hollywood.

They said official complaints had not been lodged because the behaviour of the MSPs was accepted as routine.

(Image: PA)

Another female MSP added: “I‘ve heard stories that are horrific and haven’t been reported because women are scared of not being believed or it having an impact on their career.”

None of the politicians spoken to by the Record were aware of sex assaults but they had all heard of cases of sexual harassment.

The claims back up allegations by human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar that women at all levels of the Scottish Parliament have been subjected to harassment.

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Anwar said he had spoken to “a number of women” over the past two years about their treatment by men at Holyrood.

He added: “It’s a catalogue of sexual harassment, stalking, social media abuse, sexual innuendos, verbal sexual abuse, touching, sexual assaults, requests for sex, cover-up, isolation and bullying.

“I have spoken to several individuals who have been subject to sexual harassment This is not just a problem for one party. It is a problem for all parties.”

Last week, it was claimed there is culture of sexism and harassment at Westminster. And yesterday more lurid allegations emerged.

(Image: i-Images Picture Agency)

Tory International trade Minister Mark Garnier will face an investigation into whether he broke ministerial rules after he admitted asking his secretary to buy sex toys.

Garnier’s former PA Caroline Edmondson said the married MP had given her money to buy two vibrators at a sex shop – one for his wife and one for a woman in his constituency office.

The PA, who has since left to work for another MP, said that on another occasion, in front of witnesses, Garnier called her “sugar t***”.

He said: “I’m not going to deny it, because I’m not going to be dishonest. I’m going to have to take it on the chin.”

Garnier is reported to have claimed the “sugar t***” comment was part of an “amusing conversation” about the TV comedy Gavin and Stacey.

He claimed the sex toys were bought after a Christmas lunch.

Garnier added: “The vibrator shop was high jinks. I hung around outside and she went into this shop. That was it.”

It was also claimed that former Tory cabinet minister Stephen Crabb admitted sending “explicit” messages to a 19-year-old woman he interviewed for a job in 2013, when he was a Welsh minister.

(Image: Bloomberg)

The married MP was quoted as saying he had been “foolish” but that there had been no sexual contact.

He added: “We exchanged messages which talked about sex but none of it was meant seriously.

“We met for coffee a few times and had a glass of wine once at the Commons, but nothing more.

“I accept any kind of sexual chatter like this is totally wrong and I am sorry for my actions.”

Crabb resigned last year as Work and Pensions Secretary following reports of a similar incident.

Labour MP Diane Abbott said sexual harassment of female politicians goes back years.

She added: “It was worse when I first became an MP. Women would get up in the chamber and Tories opposite would do this gesture like they were weighing their breasts.”

Tory MP Philip Dunne provoked concerns about a culture of secrecy by claiming allegations would stay within the Whip’s office, where party discipline is upheld.

He added: “When I was in the Whip’s office, it was very clear anything in the Whip’s office stayed in the Whip’s office.”

(Image: flickr Editorial/Getty Images)

The Record contacted Scotland’s main political parties to ask if any incidents are being investigated at Holyrood

Labour said no allegations had been formally reported. But the party’s former Scottish leader Kezia Dugdale raised concerns in her Record column earlier this month.

She wrote: “There’s a Harvey Weinstein in every workplace. Whether that’s a supermarket, a factory floor, an office block or a national parliament, there’s always one and often many more. We all know who they are.”

The Tories and Lib Dems said no allegations had been made to them.

Scottish Health Secretary Shona Robison said she would find it hard to believe Holyrood would be “immune” from sexual harassment incidents.

She added: “I’m very concerned by the reports that I’ve read. There is clearly a focus at the moment about sexual harassment in a number of institutions and I would find it hard to believe that the Scottish Parliament is immune from that.

“It’s really important these issues are brought out and people obviously should report it to the parliamentary authorities, to the police possibly, and also if its a party issue, to the political party.”

A Scottish Parliament spokesman said: “Sexual harassment is unacceptable and we take any allegation of sexual harassment in the workplace very seriously.

“The Parliament have robust procedures in place to investigate and deal with any reports of sexual harassment in the workplace. If any individuals were to witness or experience such behaviour, we would encourage them to report it.”