Theresa May has defended her approach to the sexual harassment scandal sweeping Westminster, saying she has been made aware of more issues that are not yet in the public domain.

Speaking at the CBI annual conference, May said she wanted a cross-party approach to overhauling complaints procedures, after a number of allegations emerged about senior Conservative and Labour politicians, leading to the resignation of the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, the suspension of multiple MPs and investigations into her deputy, Damian Green.

In her speech, May said changes were not about trying to regulate people’s personal lives. “Of course people can be friends with their colleagues and consensual relationships can develop at work – this isn’t about prying into private lives,” she said. “What we are talking about is the use and abuse of power.”

“Those working for members of parliament should not have to navigate different party systems depending on their employer’s political affiliation.”

However, during the Q&A following the speech, May swerved a question over whether she was aware of the complaints and of inappropriate behaviour in Westminster before last week.

“Obviously what has happened is over the last week a number of stories have appeared in the press,” she said. “A number of issues were raised with me that didn’t appear in the press. And, as you have seen, action has been taken.”

May said it was not just the responsibility of political parties to take action, but parliament as an institution. “I believe it is so important that Westminster itself, parliament itself, has a proper process for grievance procedures, has a proper process where people can make complaints and bring allegations,” she said.

The prime minister’s comments will pile further pressure on the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, to commit to a change in parliament’s employment system.

“I want people working in parliament to have the confidence that they can come forward with those allegations, that they can come forward and report misconduct that has taken place,” she said. “And I want both sides to have the confidence that those concerns will be properly investigated, will be fairly and properly investigated.”

Jeremy Corbyn has called for training for all new MPs in how to manage their staff appropriately, and urged the prime minister to involve trade unions in tackling abuse at Westminster.

In a letter to May, who has invited her fellow party leaders to a meeting on Monday afternoon to discuss the slew of sexual harassment allegations that have emerged in recent days, the Labour leader says new MPs should all learn about how to treat employees.

“We believe it is necessary to introduce a minimum standard training programme for MPs following each general election in best practice employment standards and management of their parliamentary offices,” he says.

The Labour leader also argues that unions should play a key role in tackling the issue, and urges the prime minister to invite the chair of the trade union for parliamentary staff to Monday’s meeting.

“Trade union representation is a vital mechanism for strengthening effective action and protection against sexual and other forms of harassment and abuse at work, and the problems in achieving effective trade union representation and recognition in parliament have made that more difficult,” he says.

“In addition, I believe the relevant trade unions should be full parties to further discussions and decisions on changes to house policy in relation to the rights, protection and treatment of staff.”

He also calls for Bercow to be invited to join the discussions – and provides a copy of Labour’s anti-harassment policies.

Labour has suspended two MPs – Kelvin Hopkins and Jared O’Mara – over allegations of inappropriate behaviour, and the party is believed to be dealing with several other potential cases. It has also launched a formal investigation into claims that the MP for Norwich South, Clive Lewis, squeezed a female activist’s bottom at Labour conference.

On Sunday night, the Conservative MP Chris Pincher “voluntarily stood down” from the whips’ office and referred himself to the party’s complaints procedure and the police following an allegation about his behaviour.

Two other Tory MPs, Dan Poulter and Daniel Kawczynski, were referred to the party’s new internal party disciplinary system, it was announced on Sunday. Stephen Crabb, the former pensions secretary, was referred on Saturday after admitting he sent suggestive text messages to a teenager.

Charlie Elphicke, the MP for Dover, has been suspended from the party over serious allegations that have been passed to the police.



May announced the new Conservative code of conduct in a letter to Bercow. The prime minister is set to meet all Westminster party leaders on Monday afternoon to discuss a cross-party approach to the issue.