A SENIOR Tory MP was allegedly caught watching pornography while sitting beside a female minister in the House of Commons, according to a report.
The woman – who has not been named in the report – reportedly told colleagues about the incident at a meeting of Conservative MPs at Westminster on Tuesday night.
The Mirror reports that around a dozen female politicians at the meeting shared their stories of sexism and harassment by their colleagues.
The meeting came after outrage was sparked by a Mail On Sunday story in which a Tory source said Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner crossed and uncrossed her legs in the Commons to distract Boris Johnson during debates.
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Rayner described the story and the claims as “misogynistic” and the paper was widely condemned across the political spectrum.
The meeting of the so-called 2022 group was attended by as many as 50 MPs, the paper reported and included new chief whip Chris Heaton-Harris, Tory party chair Oliver Dowden and Commons leader Mark Spencer.
Sources told the paper former prime minister Theresa May observed with a “face like thunder” as her colleagues described their experiences with male Tory MPs.
Heaton-Harris said he was looking into the "wholly unacceptable" allegations and his spokeswoman vowed "action will be taken".
Johnson has suggested the person responsible could be dismissed when he was asked whether sexual harassment would be grounds for dismissal.
He told the Commons “sexual harassment is intolerable” and “of course it is grounds for dismissal” when asked about the 56 MPs accused of predatory behaviour.
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His aides insisted the Tory party does not have a problem with misogyny and sexism.
The Prime Minister’s press secretary said: “You will have heard the PM address this explicitly in Parliament today and over the last few days, saying there is absolutely no place for such behaviour and this cannot be tolerated in any workplace.”
Asked whether watching pornography at work was a sackable offence, she said: “I am not aware of the disciplinary action. Obviously, it is wholly unacceptable behaviour and it is being looked into.”
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