FDA National Officer for the House of Commons Jawad Raza responded to these updated proposals:
“Today’s announcement on risk-based exclusion represents a significant victory for the FDA and our fellow trade unions. We have long campaigned to ensure that Parliament, like any other workplace, is a safe place to work for our members.
“For too long, Parliament’s reputation has been tarnished, and the confidence and trust of House staff undermined, by the stream of allegations of sexual misconduct. Not having a mechanism to prevent those who have been arrested for serious sexual offences from attending the Parliamentary Estate is unacceptable and out of line with every other workplace.”
Raza continued:
“This announcement is a real step forward in restoring the faith of our members in the ability of the House to appropriately deal with allegations and ensure their safety at work. It should now be implemented without delay.
If Prime Minister Andy Burnham wants a different political culture, he needs to start with the Ministerial Code says Dave Penman.
FDA General Secretary Dave Penman wrote to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, urging him to introduce a fully independent process for dealing with bullying and harassment complaints to his new Ministerial Code
Dave Penman has labelled new Commission “an opportunity missed” and called on the government to go further and look at parliament for a more independent system.
