Two Conservative ministers have hit out at what they call false and hurtful allegations of sexual abuse , as Theresa May wrote to fellow party leaders calling for an independent appeals process to investigate serious complaints in Westminster.
Dominic Raab and Rory Stewart both said they had been named on an anonymously compiled list of supposed misdeeds by Conservative MPs, and insisted that the claims were completely untrue.
Raab, a junior justice minister tipped by some as a future Tory leader, revealed he was named on the widely-circulated list as having been subject to an injunction over “inappropriate behaviour with a woman”.
In a statement on his website Raab warned that while it was vital to investigate cases of abuse and harassment, he feared a “media feeding frenzy” from the widely shared list, which names 40 MPs and ministers.
Any claims he had harassed anyone or engaged in sexually abusive or lewd behaviour “is false and malicious”, Raab said, adding that he had taken legal advice.
Claims of misdeeds of the sort chronicled on the list “need to be taken seriously”, he said.
“At the same time, for anonymous individuals to compile and publish, or allow to be published, a list of vague, unsubstantiated and – in my case – false allegations is wrong.
“It is also a form of harassment and intimidation, although of course I am not suggesting it is the same or equivalent. Still, accountability should mean properly investigating any reports of abuse, without irresponsibly smearing those who have done nothing wrong.”
Stewart, whose role takes in both the Foreign Office and the Department for International Development, is named on the list as supposedly having asked a parliamentary researcher, named as Sophie Bolsover, “to do odd things”.
In a statement, Bolsover, who no longer works for the MP, rejected this, saying: “During my time working in parliament, Rory Stewart was never anything other than completely professional and an excellent employer.”
Stewart said the appearance of his name of the list had been “deeply hurtful”. He said: “This story is completely untrue and deeply hurtful. Neither of us have any idea how our names appeared on the list.”
Raab and Stewart’s statements came after May told prime minister’s questions she had written to other party leaders to seek a meeting on new measures to combat sexual abuse and harassment at Westminster.
Speaking after ordering an investigation into allegations that her deputy, Damian Green, made inappropriate advances to a female activist – which he denies – May said the wider reporting of sexual misconduct “demands a response”.
The prime minister said she had invited other party leaders to a meeting early next week. Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, and Ian Blackford, the SNP’s Westminster head, both said they were happy to attend.
Speaking at the start of PMQs with Green sitting in his usual place near her on the frontbench, May said: “Mr Speaker, members on both sides of the house have been deeply concerned about allegations of harassment and mistreatment here in Westminster.”
She said: “I’ve written to all party leaders inviting them to a meeting early next week so we can discuss a common, transparent independent grievance procedure for all those working in parliament. We have a duty to ensure that everyone coming here to contribute to public life is treated with respect.”
Downing Street later released the letter, sent to the leaders in Westminster of Labour, the SNP, the Lib Dems, the DUP, Plaid Cymru and Greens.
In the letter, May calls both for improved grievance and support procedures for staff who have faced harassment or abuse, and a new, independent body to which complaints can be referred “to ensure appropriate investigation and action takes place”.
Corbyn and Blackford both said that they would work with May on the issue.
Later during PMQs May was asked by Labour backbencher Lisa Nandy about concerns that the Conservative whips’ office had stockpiled reports of potentially criminal behaviour by MPs to pressure them into loyalty.
“Can I say to her that three years ago I brought evidence to her in this house that whips had used information about sexual abuse to demand loyalty from MPs,” Nandy said.
“I brought this information to her in this house and I warned her at the time that unless real action was taken we risked repeating those injustices again today. On three occasions I asked her to act and on three occasions she did not.”
Nandy was referring to claims made by a former Tory whip in the 1990s that during the early 1970s the Edward Heath government covered up scandals involving child abuse to pressure MPs.
May replied: “I will say to her that I am very clear that the whips’ office – I hope this goes for all whips’ offices across this house – should make clear to people that where there are any sexual abuse allegations that could be of a criminal nature, people should go to the police.”
The claims about Green come from Kate Maltby, who is 30 years younger than him.
She told the Times Green had “fleetingly” touched her knee during a meeting in a Waterloo pub in 2015 and sent her a “suggestive” text message after she was pictured wearing a corset in the newspaper.
Green, one of May’s closest political allies, said any allegation that he made sexual advances to Maltby was “untrue [and] deeply hurtful”.
Labour has launched an independent inquiry into claims that the activist Bex Bailey was discouraged by a party official from reporting an alleged rape at a Labour event in 2011 on the grounds it might damage her political career.