Friday, November 11, 2022
The 'whisper list' that must set off alarm bells about our democracy
'What happens on tour, stays on tour' is a well-known adage that apparently applies to the behind the doors worls of Westminster as well. According to the Guardian, a Labour MP has claimed there is a “whisper list” of roughly 40 politicians to keep at arm’s length in Westminster – including two former cabinet ministers.
The paper says that Charlotte Nichols, the MP for Warrington North, said she was warned of colleagues to never accept a drink from or be alone with. The list, which is not written down, includes people known for “bullying or sexual misconduct”:
She said: “We need to be aware of these MPs from a range of political parties for our friends’ sake who may visit parliament, for our staffers’ sake and of course for our own safety and professional reputation as well.”
In order to stay safe, she admitted she would avoid them “as far as possible”, even if it meant dodging trying to work with them.
Nichols said the list “is not 100%”, as someone whom most people would deem “good and safe” had left her facing a harrowing ordeal.
“Everyone will know of a whisper network list of people to avoid in parliament. When I joined, I was sat down and told of people I should never accept a drink from, never be alone with and avoid as far as possible to stay safe.”
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Nichols, who was elected in 2019, said she would have the “perfect job” if it was not for abuse online and “the culture of toxicity” within Westminster itself.
She added: “We all know [who they are] and nothing is done and they continue to walk around and do their jobs – and there’s that kind of culture of impunity on it.”
Nichols did not identify any of these politicians, but said there were roughly 40 on the list, with two of them once having served as cabinet ministers.
“I think I was quite staggered at how long the list was,” she said, adding that new names appeared “all the time”.
A senior Tory female MP who did not wish to be named said she had been warned of which male journalists to avoid in parliament, and she wished women did not “have to share this sort of info – but it’s what we do”.
The sooner there are proper, and trusted, mechanisms in place the report and deal with this behaviour the better.
The paper says that Charlotte Nichols, the MP for Warrington North, said she was warned of colleagues to never accept a drink from or be alone with. The list, which is not written down, includes people known for “bullying or sexual misconduct”:
She said: “We need to be aware of these MPs from a range of political parties for our friends’ sake who may visit parliament, for our staffers’ sake and of course for our own safety and professional reputation as well.”
In order to stay safe, she admitted she would avoid them “as far as possible”, even if it meant dodging trying to work with them.
Nichols said the list “is not 100%”, as someone whom most people would deem “good and safe” had left her facing a harrowing ordeal.
“Everyone will know of a whisper network list of people to avoid in parliament. When I joined, I was sat down and told of people I should never accept a drink from, never be alone with and avoid as far as possible to stay safe.”
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Nichols, who was elected in 2019, said she would have the “perfect job” if it was not for abuse online and “the culture of toxicity” within Westminster itself.
She added: “We all know [who they are] and nothing is done and they continue to walk around and do their jobs – and there’s that kind of culture of impunity on it.”
Nichols did not identify any of these politicians, but said there were roughly 40 on the list, with two of them once having served as cabinet ministers.
“I think I was quite staggered at how long the list was,” she said, adding that new names appeared “all the time”.
A senior Tory female MP who did not wish to be named said she had been warned of which male journalists to avoid in parliament, and she wished women did not “have to share this sort of info – but it’s what we do”.
The sooner there are proper, and trusted, mechanisms in place the report and deal with this behaviour the better.
