Close X
Friday, December 20, 2024
ADVT 
International

Indian-Origin MP Lisa Nandy Confronts UK PM Theresa May On Sexual Abuse 'Cover-Up'

IANS, 02 Nov, 2017 11:53 AM
    An Indian-origin MP has accused British Prime Minister Theresa May of failing to act when she was tipped about a Westminster sexual abuse cover-up three years ago.
     
    Labour Party's Lisa Nandy made the allegation in a dramatic confrontation during the Prime Minister's presence in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
     
    She claimed she brought evidence to May three years ago when the latter was Home Secretary but no action was taken, the Independent reported.
     
    "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 told the Commons.
     
    "I brought that information to her in this House and warned her at the time that unless real action was taken, we risk repeating those injustices again.
     
    "On three occasions, I asked her to act and on three occasions she did not. So can I ask her, in this of all weeks, for the fourth time, will she finally take concrete action to tackle this?"
     
    According to Commons records, Nandy raised the issue twice in 2014 in the chamber and then in a written question.
     
    Following her question in Parliament, the Wigan MP tweeted an extract of her exchange with May on the matter, dating from July 2014.
     
     
    It revealed that Nandy had told May that in the mid-1990s, a senior long-serving ex-Whip said the whips' office "routinely helped MPs with scandals" including those "involving small boys" in a bid to exert control and prevent problems for the government.
     
    Replying to the claim, May said: "I will of course look back at the questions that she has said that she raised with me in this House."
     
    Nandy's claim came amid a deepening scandal over sexual abuse in Parliament with Westminster staffers coming forward to make allegations of harassment, misconduct, assault and rape.
     
    The Tories hit the headlines in last few weeks with Minister Mark Garnier admitting he sent his secretary to buy sex toys. May's deputy Damian Green was accused of making advances on a younger writer.
     
    Labour MP Jared O'Mara was suspended last week because of sexist remarks made online. Senior activist Bex Bailey claimed she had been raped and discouraged from reporting the incident by senior Labour officials.
     
    More claims of harassment in Parliament emerged as a spreadsheet was leaked containing a list of 36 Tory MPs, including some ministers, who had been accused of misconduct.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    World's 'Heaviest' Woman EMAN AHMED Dies In Abu Dhabi

    World's 'Heaviest' Woman EMAN AHMED Dies In Abu Dhabi
    Eman Abdul Atti’s efforts to shed her extra kilos ended in a tragedy at a hospital here when the 37-year-old Egyptian national, known as ‘the world heaviest woman’, died on Monday due to complications from her weight.

    World's 'Heaviest' Woman EMAN AHMED Dies In Abu Dhabi

    Indian-American Couple In Houston Donates US$ 2,50,000 For Harvey Relief

    Indian-American Couple In Houston Donates US$ 2,50,000 For Harvey Relief
    Houston residents Amit Bhandari and his wife Arpita Brahmbhatt Bhandari donated the amount to Mayor Sylvester Turner, on behalf of the Greater Houston Community Foundation for #HurricaneHarvey relief at a private event yesterday.

    Indian-American Couple In Houston Donates US$ 2,50,000 For Harvey Relief

    WATCH: India Demolishes Pakistan PM's Speech At UN, Calls It 'Terroristan'

    WATCH: India Demolishes Pakistan PM's Speech At UN, Calls It 'Terroristan'
    In a sharp escalation of its attack, India slammed Pakistan at the UN for its support to terrorism, calling it "terroristan".

    WATCH: India Demolishes Pakistan PM's Speech At UN, Calls It 'Terroristan'

    Dawood Ibrahim In Pakistan, Brother Iqbal Tells Thane Cops

    Fugitive mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar wants to return to India and is negotiating a settlement with the BJP-led government at the Centre, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray said here on Thursday.

    Dawood Ibrahim In Pakistan, Brother Iqbal Tells Thane Cops

    Historic India Club In London Fights For Survival

    Historic India Club In London Fights For Survival
    The India Club in London, a hub for Indian nationalists in the UK during the independence movement in the 1930s and 40s, is fighting for its survival after plans emerged for the building to be demolished internally.

    Historic India Club In London Fights For Survival

    Short-Range Nuclear Weapons To Counter India's 'Cold Start Doctrine': Pakistan PM

    Short-Range Nuclear Weapons To Counter India's 'Cold Start Doctrine': Pakistan PM
    Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Thursday his country has developed short-range nuclear weapons to counter the 'cold start doctrine' adopted by the Indian Army.

    Short-Range Nuclear Weapons To Counter India's 'Cold Start Doctrine': Pakistan PM