Senior Labour MPs and advisers are preparing to hand a dossier containing the names of more than 30 MPs and Peers accused of inappropriate or sexual behaviour to Andy Burnham's team, in a bid to end the 'Westminster boys club' in his incoming government. The list, seen by LBC, includes top politicians from across all parties.
Burnham’s allies hope that the file will help the wannabe Prime Minister avoid unnecessary scandals. One senior Labour source told LBC: "We're doing this now to say to Andy, 'don't give these people jobs, stay away from them'."
List Aims to Prevent Scandals
The source added: "We don't want them to risk the next government making any of the same mistakes of previous governments. These are people thought to be sex pests, accused of being bullies, being creepy, have dodgy pasts - anyone with inappropriate behaviour. We need to make sure this boy's club is ended once and for all."
A Labour MP said the list was a "good idea" because Mr Burnham has been out of Westminster for a bit so couldn't be expected to be across some of the goings on while he's been in Manchester. "And you know, he actually practices what he preaches on this stuff," the MP said.
Call for Women in Top Roles
Another Labour MP said politicians with "liabilities" should also be on the list to prevent a repeat of the Peter Mandelson scandal. The Women’s Parliamentary Labour Party group has called on Mr Burnham to ensure that half of his Number 10 staff are female and that he commits to giving the role of Deputy Prime Minister to a woman, too.
Former safeguarding minister Jess Phillips told Tonight with Andrew Marr she backed the move. She said: "As I said in the meeting, I think I heckled that actually the women in the Labour Party might not be 50%, but we're over 50% of the talent. So he's got plenty to pick from, there's plenty of talent in that room… just putting women in positions won't do it. They have to be imbued with power. Decisions have to be made with women in the room, and those women have to be able to feel that they can speak against the pervading power if that power is a man. And often they don't."
Background of 'Pestminster'
Westminster became known as "Pestminster" after reports that dozens of MPs were accused of inappropriate behaviour such as bullying or harassment in 2022. The new dossier aims to ensure such issues are not repeated under a Burnham government.
