Gillian Gehring, Linda Rhead, Jennifer Rees, Calix Eden, Tony Green and Pauline Watson on the challenges of tackling the sexist and bullying behaviour that’s rife in parliament
Two women MPs saw Neil Parish looking at porn on his mobile phone and reported him to the whips (‘Some bad apples’: senior Tory minister denies institutional misogyny, 1 May). I wonder how many male Tory MPs also saw him and did nothing. Was this because they regarded this behaviour as normal, or that they did not want to inform on a male colleague? I hope that the whole House of Commons will agree on a binding code forbidding sexist behaviour, under which condoning bad behaviour is also regarded as an offence.
Gillian Gehring
Sheffield
• When I was a school inspector, teachers and other staff in schools would sometimes tell me of incidents that concerned them – mostly, but not always, it was about bullying. Whether I was able to do anything to help immediately or not, I would always tell them to keep a log, dated, in a bound book. It is an incredibly powerful source with which to support any allegation or claim against an offender. I would urge the women in parliament to do the same. It acts as a powerful support for your case should you be able to present such a record.
Linda Rhead
London
