Talk must be followed by meaningful action to tackle harassment and bullying in Westminster

Following the resignation of Conservative MP Neil Parish on Saturday after he admitted having watched pornography in parliament, a number of senior MPs across the political spectrum have lined up to call for an overhaul of the culture in Westminster.

House of Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has said “radical action” is required, along with a review of working practices, while Dame Andrea Leadsom, a former leader of the house, has called for parliament to be afforded its own human resources department. Dame Andrea has also said that the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme – the body to which Mr Parish’s case has been referred – is not fit for purpose.

They are not the first to demand change. The working environment in Westminster has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks, as it has many times over the years, with a significant number of MPs said to be facing allegations of bullying and harassment. Yet talk can be cheap, and unless concrete action is taken while the spotlight on the issue is at its strongest, then our politicians will have failed.

One of Sir Lindsay’s main suggestions has been an end to the current system by which MPs employ their staff directly – a solid thought. But the discussion on the Sunday political shows highlights that there is much further to go. Neither the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, nor the business secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, had much to contribute in the way of ideas – other than agreeing that Sir Lindsay’s suggestion was potentially useful.

Mr Kwarteng told the BBC that he did not believe there to be a generalised problem with the culture in parliament; more that there were some “bad apples” who should face consequences. But a focus on individuals, versus wider changes to protocols, will only do so much – and those who have watched events unfold in Westminster recently will find it hard to argue that its processes are not in need of review.

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Sir Keir told Sky News that “a fish rots from the head”, and that leadership needs to be shown by Downing Street and the top echelons of government if things are going to move as quickly as they should. He argued that such leadership has been lacking from the Conservative Party.

He has a point. Work like this needs impetus and, while all those in Westminster have a part to play, Boris Johnson and his cabinet cannot just wait for the news cycle to move on.

The issue of speed is important. There is little doubt that the pace of complaints procedures should be quickened up, and this is the kind of change that can happen swiftly and would probably have the support of the majority of MPs. A transparent conversation about the problems inherent in the culture of Westminster is necessary, but it will end up counting for little if meaningful action does not follow.