LONDON (AP) – A British Conservative Party MP in government was fired after colleagues said he was watching pornography on his phone in the House of Commons.
Party thugs – officials tasked with enforcing discipline – said on Friday that Neil Paris had been fired by a conservative group in parliament while a House of Commons standards committee was investigating. He will remain a member of parliament but will sit independently.
The 65-year-old Paris has been a member of the lower house of parliament in South West England since 2010 and chairs the Committee on the Common Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The allegations against him are the latest allegations of sexual harassment in British politics. Long known for its fun and macho vibe, Parliament is now a more diverse place, but lawmakers and staff say intimidation, harassment, and inappropriate behavior are still rampant in a system that essentially provides allow legislators to self-regulate.
Earlier this week, lawmakers reacted in anger after the newspaper quoted an unnamed Conservative lawmaker as accusing Labor leader Angela Reiner of trying to “disperse” the prime minister by crossing on his legs in a debate.
In addition to Paris, three Conservative MPs are currently suspended from the party on sexual assault cases.
Allegations of sexism and misconduct against conservatives are even more troubling for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who began work after he became a son. Police fined him for attending a party in 2020 that violated coronavirus blocking rules enforced by the government.
The UK local election on Thursday will give voters the opportunity to express their feelings to the ruling party.
Source: Huffpost
