Bullying and Harassment: Cox Report Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Bullying and Harassment: Cox Report

Vicky Ford Excerpts
Tuesday 16th October 2018

(6 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Andrea Leadsom Portrait Andrea Leadsom
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The hon. Lady was fully engaged with the working group and will know that we unanimously wanted to be able to investigate historical allegations. I absolutely undertake that the recommendation from Dame Laura and her challenge to the advice we received will be fully taken into account in the review in January.

Vicky Ford Portrait Vicky Ford (Chelmsford) (Con)
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As a relatively new Member of the House, may I say that I am enormously proud to serve in it? It is obviously deeply distressing to read the report. Politics, especially British politics at the moment, is a stressful place to be in, and where there is stress, that can enhance bullying and harassment. Will the Leader of the House consider how we can reduce stress levels, especially thinking about last-minute questions and changes to the agenda that put unnecessary stress on politicians and their staff? Can we look at how that is perhaps better dealt with in other Parliaments to find out whether there are ways in which we can try to decrease the stress?