House of Commons harassment inquiry: independent process needed for all, not just for complaints against Speaker, says FDA

3 May 2018 11:09 AM

Responding to the Prime Minister's call for an investigation into historical allegations against the Speaker, FDA General Secretary Dave Penman yesterday said: 

“The Speaker is only one of potentially dozens of MPs against whom Commons staff have, due to a flawed and discredited system for investigating complaints, been unable or unwilling to raise a formal complaint.

“Only last week, despite calls from the FDA to investigate individual cases, Dame Laura Cox’s independent inquiry into bullying and harassment in the House of Commons ruled out dealing with historical allegations.

“If justice is to be served, then all of those who have been denied it need access to an independent complaints process, not only those who may make a complaint against the Speaker. 

“All staff in the House need a consistent and fair approach to the investigation of both past and current cases. There can be no clean slate for past perpetrators of bullying and harassment.

“The Prime Minister now has the opportunity to demonstrate to the staff who support the vital work of Parliament that she is interested in their welfare, not just the pursuit of a narrow political agenda.”

Notes for editors

  1. The FDA is the union for senior managers and professionals in public service, representing more than 18,000 members at grades HEO and above. Membership includes senior civil servants, Government policy advisors, prosecutors, diplomats, tax professionals, economists, solicitors and other professionals working across the Government and the NHS.
  2. The FDA (formerly the First Division Association) should be referred to simply as "The FDA" and can be described as "the senior public servants' union". 
  3. The FDA can be found on Twitter @FDA_union. General Secretary Dave Penman tweets as @FDAGenSec. 
  4. For further information contact: