The Houses of Parliament treated a woman sexually harassed by a co-worker “like the problem” and left her fearing to return to her job, MPs heard.
Teresa Pearce, Labour MP for Erith and Thameshead, raised the case of her female constituent during PMQs in the Commons.
She said the woman, whose identity is not known, had “many months of meetings with her HR and management” and still does not feel safe enough to go back to work.
It comes after an investigation by High Court judge Dame Laura Cox QC found that a culture of “deference, subservience, acquiescence and silence” had allowed the mistreatment of staff in the House of Commons to thrive.
“My constituent came to see me earlier this year about being sexually harassed at work by a co-worker,” said Pearce.
“Despite many months of meetings with her HR and line management, she is being treated like the problem rather than the victim.
“Could the Prime Minister advise me what I can do to help my constituent return to work and feel safe when her employer is this House?”
The perpetrator has not been identified but it is not thought to be an MP or anyone from the Speaker’s office, which has been at the centre of some of the bullying claims.
The Prime Minister replied that it was “important that everybody is treated with dignity and respect”, and said: “There is no place for bullying, sexual harassment or abuse in any workplace and that includes in this parliament.
“I’m sure we are all very concerned at the report Dame Laura Cox has brought forward.”
She added: “I hope there will be a very serious, a very full and a proper response to Dame Laura Cox’s report.
“This should worry all of us. And what I want to see is a situation where the Hon Lady’s constituent can come to work in this house, be treated with dignity and respect and not be subject to bullying, harassment or abuse.”
Asked about Pearce’s question, a spokesman for Jeremy Corbyn said: “That testimony was appalling and Jeremy is completely committed to pursuing and investigating all these cases.
“They need to be fully addressed, the system needs to have a robust independent element.”
The Conservative chair of the Commons Women and Equalities Committee has said that Speaker John Bercow should resign in the wake of Dame Laura’s report.
Maria Miller said he should step down as the probe found “urgent and serious problems” in the way abusive behaviour by MPs and staff is dealt with in Parliament.
The former Tory cabinet minister said the report showed that “bullying and harassment is coming right from the top”.