There isn’t any proof bullying befell throughout final month’s controversial Commons vote on fracking, an preliminary investigation into the incident has discovered.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle had requested senior parliamentary officers to look into claims Conservative MPs had been manhandled into voting with the federal government within the dying days of the Liz Truss administration.
A gaggle of senior Tories, together with the now-environment secretary Therese Coffey and former minister Jacob Rees-Mogg, had been accused of bullying fellow MPs into voting in opposition to Labour’s movement to ban fracking on 19 October – the day earlier than Ms Truss introduced she was stepping down.
There was confusion within the lead-up to the vote, with Tory whips initially saying it was truly a confidence vote within the authorities so Conservatives needed to vote in opposition to it. But some weren’t proud of that as they’re vociferously in opposition to fracking.
Opposition MPs claimed one Conservative MP was “physically manhandled” into the “no” foyer to make sure he opposed the movement.
But sharing the preliminary findings of the inquiry with MPs, Sir Lindsay mentioned the “tense” ambiance and crowding had contributed to the confusion about what had occurred.
“The atmosphere was tense and members were raising their voices to make themselves heard, but there is no evidence of any bullying or undue influence placed on other members,” he informed the Commons on Tuesday.
“The crowding made it hard to see what was really taking place.
“While some members thought that bodily contact was getting used to pressure a member into the foyer, the member involved has mentioned very clearly that this didn’t occur.
“Those who had the clearest views of the incident confirmed this.”
The Speaker additionally reminded MPs that taking images inside parliament is forbidden, after some shared images on social media of MPs crowded throughout the voting lobbies.
Sir Lindsay mentioned: “Several members took photos during the division, some of which were posted on social media.
“I wish to remind members that taking images throughout proceedings is prohibited.
“It is important that we treat each other with respect. I take allegations of bullying extremely seriously.
“I’ll take swift motion wherever mandatory to handle any improper behaviour within the chamber or within the lobbies.”
Parliamentary authorities interviewed “over 40 members and officers who had been there”, Sir Lindsay said as he revealed a full report will be published shortly.
‘I know what I saw’
Labour MP Chris Bryant previously apologised for taking a photo of the incident and sharing it on social media but said he stands by his claim he saw Tory MPs being manhandled into voting with the government.
“I’m not difficult the ruling of the Speaker, however I do know what I noticed and I’m not withdrawing a single phrase,” the chair of the Commons Standards Committee told BBC Radio 4’s World at One.
“It could also be that some individuals really feel that they weren’t bullied however I noticed intimidatory behaviour.
“If you have 15 or 12 MPs standing round one MP, effectively, to my mind, kettling them, that is intimidatory behaviour and it will be seen as bullying in any other line of work.”
He added that he knew he was breaking the foundations on the time and has apologised for that however he thought “sometimes you have to break a rule if you see a greater injustice being done”.
“We are trying to change the culture in parliament,” he mentioned.
Source: information.sky.com”