A senior Tory minister has revealed that she was once “pinned against a wall” by a male MP several years ago.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan was questioned about sexism and misogyny in UK politics after several incidents earlier this week.
The Secretary of State for International Trade has told men to “keep your hands in your pockets” after she said she suffered “wandering hands” around half a dozen times.
She told Sky News that the vast majority of her male colleagues are “charming” and “committed” MPs.
“But there are some for whom they drink too much, or indeed a sort of opinion that somehow being chosen makes them know, God’s gift to women, that they can suddenly please themselves, that’s never right. , that kind of behavior, disrespect to women”.
He added: “Fundamentally, if you’re a guy, keep your hands in your pockets and behave like you would if you had your daughter in the room.”
Westminster has been rocked by a spate of accusations of harassment and sexism this week after Labor Deputy Leader Angela Rayner was accused of deliberately trying to distract Prime Minister Boris Johnson by crossing and uncrossing her legs in the House of Commons.
Trevelyan described his own experiences while in parliament, telling LBC: “We could describe it as errant hands.
“We could describe it as, several years ago, being pinned against a wall by a male MP who is now no longer in the House, I am pleased to say, declaring that he must have loved him because he was a powerful man.
“This kind of thing, the abuse of power displayed by a very small minority thank God of male colleagues is completely unacceptable.
“We’ve made real progress both in calling it out and supporting those who are starting to feel like they can come forward.”
On Wednesday it emerged that a Tory MP had been caught viewing pornography in the House of Commons by two female colleagues.
The main whip has launched an investigation.
Trevelyan described allegations that a Conservative MP viewed pornography in the House of Commons as “completely unacceptable” but refused to say whether they should be sacked.
She told Sky News: “I haven’t had a chance to speak to the whip boss, and I know the ladies concerned who apparently saw this completely inappropriate activity have been encouraged to use the formal system in the House of Commons to to be able to report it and I very much hope that they do or have done it, I don’t know, and that the system shows if it were, what exactly should be the punishment for that type of inappropriate behavior”.
He also said he is confident whip boss Chris Heaton-Harris “will make a decision that is appropriate.”
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