In a heated Prime Minister's Questions session, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer launched a blistering attack on the government's failure to address the toxic culture within Parliament, citing the alarming findings from Dame Louise Casey's landmark report.
Confrontation Over Commons Culture
The opposition leader demanded immediate action from Rishi Sunak, highlighting that the report exposed "bullying, harassment, and a general culture of undermining people" that has been allowed to fester within the very heart of British democracy.
Sir Keir emphasised the urgent need for reform, stating that the current environment makes Parliament "a terrible place to work" for many staff members and MPs alike. The damning assessment comes after extensive investigation into the institution's working practices.
Speaker Under Fire
The exchange occurred amidst growing controversy surrounding Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who faces mounting pressure over his handling of proceedings. Several MPs have expressed no confidence in his leadership following recent contentious decisions in the chamber.
Sir Keir pointedly questioned whether the Prime Minister would commit to implementing Dame Louise's recommendations in full, arguing that mere warm words would not suffice to address the deep-seated problems identified in the report.
Sunak's Response
The Prime Minister acknowledged the seriousness of the findings but faced criticism for what opponents described as a lack of concrete action plans. Mr Sunak maintained that his government takes the issues "extremely seriously" while defending the overall integrity of parliamentary processes.
However, the Labour leader countered that without decisive intervention, the toxic culture would continue to damage both the institution's reputation and the wellbeing of those who work within it.
The clash represents one of the most significant confrontations over parliamentary standards in recent months, putting the government's commitment to genuine reform under intense scrutiny.
