A 24/7 counselling helpline for workers in Parliament and employees of MPs is only treating the symptoms of endemic issues in Westminster such as bullying and sexual misconduct – and not the root cause, a union leader has said.
Figures obtained by the PA news agency show the number of calls made to a helpline for MPs’ staff and those who work in the Palace of Westminster has risen year on year.
Jenny Symmons, chairwoman of GMB’s branch for MPs’ staff, said that not all those who needed help were seeking it and that “much more intervention is needed to address the systemic issues with bullying and harassment, sexual misconduct, unhealthy work patterns, and other problems that have permeated our workplace for decades”.