Close X
Sunday, December 22, 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

    Indian-Origin Councillor Gurpal Atwal Banned As Taxi Driver In UK For Indecent Behaviour

    Indian-Origin Councillor Gurpal Atwal Banned As Taxi Driver In UK For Indecent Behaviour
    Gurpal Atwal swore and made racist comments to a man as well as using unlicenced drivers to ferry children to school

    Indian-Origin Councillor Gurpal Atwal Banned As Taxi Driver In UK For Indecent Behaviour

    Mumbai Woman Biker Tries To Avoid Pothole, Gets Crushed By Truck

    Mumbai Woman Biker Tries To Avoid Pothole, Gets Crushed By Truck
    Jagruti Viraj Hogale, 34, and two other women were heading from Bandra to Jawhar, a popular tourist spot know for its waterfalls, on a weekend getaway, said Mumbai police

    Mumbai Woman Biker Tries To Avoid Pothole, Gets Crushed By Truck

    Canada Says No Threat To Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh, Closes Investigation

    Canada Says No Threat To Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh, Closes Investigation
    Citing non-availability of “sufficient evidence”, the Canadian government has told India that there is no threat to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and has concluded its investigation into the matter.

    Canada Says No Threat To Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh, Closes Investigation

    Indian Man Convicted Of Using Fake Identity To Get US Citizenship

    Indian Man Convicted Of Using Fake Identity To Get US Citizenship
    An Indian man has been convicted of using fake identity to obtain American citizenship, an immigration official has said.

    Indian Man Convicted Of Using Fake Identity To Get US Citizenship

    Kotkhai Rape Case: Australian Woman Starts Online Petition

    Kotkhai Rape Case: Australian Woman Starts Online Petition
    Led by a Kotkhai-origin woman Ruchika Chauhan--the victim too belonged to this place--the group initiated its campaign on July 14.

    Kotkhai Rape Case: Australian Woman Starts Online Petition

    Indian-American Doctor Sreedhar Potarazu Jailed For $49 Million Fraud

    Indian-American Doctor Sreedhar Potarazu Jailed For $49 Million Fraud
    An Indian-American doctor-cum-entrepreneur was sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison for defrauding his former company's shareholders of more than $49 million.

    Indian-American Doctor Sreedhar Potarazu Jailed For $49 Million Fraud