Members of the UK parliament and others working on the parliamentary estate could be required to undergo criminal record checks before receiving security passes under a new Initiative to tackle violence against women. The proposed measures may also include anti-harassment training and stronger behaviour standards for MPs and peers.
The UK parliament is set to become the first legislature in the world to receive White Ribbon accreditation, a commitment to changing workplace culture that originated in Canada. Accreditation requires a three-year plan to prevent violence against women, although the full details of the plan have not yet been published.
The initiative follows a cross-party campaign led by Emily Darlington, Labour MP for Milton Keynes Central, with support from Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle and parliamentary staff. The plan is expected to include bystander training to help people recognise and respond to harassment. Political parties may also be asked to agree that new MPs undergo criminal record checks before receiving passes to work in parliament.
The campaign comes amid longstanding concerns about sexism and harassment in parliament. A 2018 survey found that nearly one in five respondents had experienced or witnessed sexual harassment. A 2023 study reported that more than two-thirds of female MPs had witnessed sexist behaviour.
Darlington said parliament should reflect the country’s values and described the accreditation as a significant step towards making it safer and more welcoming for women and girls. Conservative MP and shadow minister Ben Obese-Jecty called the plan “hugely positive”, while Liberal Democrat MP and party president Josh Babarinde said parliamentarians must continue challenging violence against women and girls in all its forms.
Sources: The Guardian World.