There has always been a “subculture of bullying and harassment” in parliament, the most senior legal and constitutional adviser in the House of Commons has said.
David Natzler, the clerk of the House of Commons, told MPs on Tuesday that “unresolved and serious issues” from the past continue to “poison the well”.
Dozens of serving and former clerks and other officials – along with several MPs – yesterday called in a letter for the recommendations of an inquiry into Westminster’s bullying culture to be adopted in full.
The officials said that, as well as MPs being stripped of a role in determining allegations about colleagues, the complaints procedures should also be amended so historic claims can be investigated.