A dossier containing allegations of inappropriate conduct against Labour Members of Parliament, dubbed the 'Pestminster' list, is reportedly being used by political rivals seeking to undermine colleagues vying for positions in Andy Burnham's prospective government. The 30-strong list, expected to be presented to a member of Burnham's transition team next week, reportedly includes accusations against several well-known Labour MPs.
Allegations on the list range from serious misconduct to less severe incidents. These reportedly include a senior minister accused of forcibly kissing a staff member in front of colleagues, and a minister considered for a Cabinet post allegedly involved in an affair with another Labour MP. Other claims involve alleged sexual acts within Parliament's 'Reasons Room,' instances of MPs pleading with individuals to accompany them, and inappropriate behavior such as hurling phones or exhibiting 'pervy behavior,' including one MP allegedly seen naked in a hotel sauna.
A source described the dossier as a mix of "hoary old stories from long ago and perfectly consensual relationships, mixed with more serious claims of inappropriate or bullying behaviour." This individual suggested the list's circulation is "less about protecting members of staff and more about eliminating rivals from the race to get a job from Andy."
As jockeying for positions in Burnham's government intensifies, ahead of his anticipated arrival in Downing Street on July 20, reports indicate that claims about past relationships, including one involving a Burnham supporter's past association with a Conservative, have been made to Labour whips in an effort to discredit individuals. This follows a past incident where a prominent supporter of Wes Streeting was allegedly warned about their relationship with a Conservative MP during Streeting's leadership bid.
The first 'Pestminster' spreadsheet was compiled nine years ago by women working in Parliament during the MeToo movement. That initiative led to public scrutiny of politicians, including figures like Cabinet Office minister Damien Green and then-Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon, who faced allegations of inappropriate touching. The aftermath also saw investigations into Conservative minister Mark Garnier for purchasing sex toys with his parliamentary secretary and resulted in the establishment of the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) to address bullying, harassment, and sexual misconduct.
Notable cases highlighted in the past include former Conservative MP Chris Pincher, found by a parliamentary inquiry to have groped two men in 2022, and Conservative backbencher Neil Parish, accused of watching pornography in the House of Commons chamber that same year.
An insider familiar with the current list emphasized the need for safety, stating, "Women in Parliament deserve to know about potential dangers, and so does Andy." The source also noted that Parliament has changed significantly in the nine years since the last such list was compiled, with a substantial influx of new MPs.
Burnham himself has pledged to address workplace issues within the Labour party, vowing in a recent email to colleagues to "lead from the front on culture change, political direction and narrative." He also intends to reform the parliamentary whipping system, aiming to "end the culture of fear" and transform whips into an "HR department" rather than enforcers of party discipline. Historically, whips have maintained a 'black book' detailing MPs' private lives, which could be used as leverage.