A day after the Conservative MP Neil Parish resigned for watching pornography in the Commons, and as yet more allegations emerged about seemingly endemic sexual misconduct, a Tory ex-minister said Kwasi Kwarteng's comments "dismissed and belittled" the experiences of female MPs.
Labour warned a toxic culture in Westminster was exacerbated by inaction from Downing Street, while its deputy leader, Angela Rayner, wrote to Boris Johnson about reports a No 10 Christmas party saw a "sexist of the year" award handed out.
Kwarteng, the business secretary, faced significant criticism after rejecting the idea of inherent sexism in parliament, arguing that problems were mainly caused by long hours and overwork, and that very few MPs transgressed.
"I don't think there's a culture of misogyny," he told Sky News. "I think the problem we have is that people are working in a really intense environment, there are long hours and I think generally, most people know their limits." Speaking later to TimesRadio, he said the problem was "some bad apples", who should be punished, adding: "But that doesn't mean that the entire culture is extremely misogynistic or full of male entitlement.
I don't recognise that." Caroline Nokes, the Tory former minister who chairs the Commons women and equalities committee, said Kwarteng's view went against the testimony of numerous MPs.
Denne historien er fra May 02, 2022-utgaven av The Guardian.
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Denne historien er fra May 02, 2022-utgaven av The Guardian.
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