Labor MP shares list of 20 alleged 'sex pests' on WhatsApp

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A Labor MP has shared a list of 20 Westminster figures suspected of being 'sex pests' with colleagues on a WhatsApp group.

Charlotte Nichols has shared the list of the names of those allegedly accused of sexual harassment with some colleagues - later claiming she couldn't be a "bystander".

Some of the MPs on the list had previously been accused of sexual harassment. 'sexual misconduct, but included and at least one Tory MP who has never been charged before, according to The Mail on Sunday.

The decision has drawn anger from MPs, with one saying it was 'extremely irresponsible' and calling for her to report any specific complaints to the police or parliamentary authorities.

Ms Nichols told the newspaper that the list had been shared "without context", contained no specific allegations and stated that it had deleted the message sent to a particular WhatsApp group by mistake.

But the MP also took to Twitter to defend the decision to share the list - saying g she couldn't "legally make a third party report" or to the Independent Complaints and Grievance System of Parliament (ICGS) or the police.

"Am I not supposed to warn others about behavior I have seen, suffered or been repeatedly told by different people that this is a clear pattern of behavior? tweeted the MP for Warrington North.

Ms Nichols said: I am many things but a spectator is not one, and while Westminster is as dark as it is , I won't argue otherwise.

The backbench MP added: 'What is REALLY irresponsible is the lack of real action to address Westminster's sexual harassment problem , which is so endemic that other MPs and staff need to be warned about the behavior of certain colleagues to ensure their safety! I wish it weren't like that, but for now it is. So here we are."

A senior Labor official told the Mail: "If you think you have proof that X, Y or Z is a bad 'one, then that's fair enough. But you don't can't just post names like that."

Ms Nichols said in November there was a "whisper network list" of about 40 politicians in Westmins ter to be avoided.

The MP, who entered parliament in 2019, said she was told to avoid being alone with these politicians, adding that some were known for their "bullying or sexual misconduct".

Responding to criticism of the deleted WhatsApp list on Twitter, she said "the fact that the story is that I somehow did something wrong by sending this message , rather than...

Labor MP shares list of 20 alleged 'sex pests' on WhatsApp
IndyEatSign up for Inside Politics email for your briefing free daily on the biggest stories in British politicsGet our free Inside Politics emailPlease enter a valid email addressPlease enter a valid email addressI would like to be notified by email about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice{{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}An error has occurred. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }}

A Labor MP has shared a list of 20 Westminster figures suspected of being 'sex pests' with colleagues on a WhatsApp group.

Charlotte Nichols has shared the list of the names of those allegedly accused of sexual harassment with some colleagues - later claiming she couldn't be a "bystander".

Some of the MPs on the list had previously been accused of sexual harassment. 'sexual misconduct, but included and at least one Tory MP who has never been charged before, according to The Mail on Sunday.

The decision has drawn anger from MPs, with one saying it was 'extremely irresponsible' and calling for her to report any specific complaints to the police or parliamentary authorities.

Ms Nichols told the newspaper that the list had been shared "without context", contained no specific allegations and stated that it had deleted the message sent to a particular WhatsApp group by mistake.

But the MP also took to Twitter to defend the decision to share the list - saying g she couldn't "legally make a third party report" or to the Independent Complaints and Grievance System of Parliament (ICGS) or the police.

"Am I not supposed to warn others about behavior I have seen, suffered or been repeatedly told by different people that this is a clear pattern of behavior? tweeted the MP for Warrington North.

Ms Nichols said: I am many things but a spectator is not one, and while Westminster is as dark as it is , I won't argue otherwise.

The backbench MP added: 'What is REALLY irresponsible is the lack of real action to address Westminster's sexual harassment problem , which is so endemic that other MPs and staff need to be warned about the behavior of certain colleagues to ensure their safety! I wish it weren't like that, but for now it is. So here we are."

A senior Labor official told the Mail: "If you think you have proof that X, Y or Z is a bad 'one, then that's fair enough. But you don't can't just post names like that."

Ms Nichols said in November there was a "whisper network list" of about 40 politicians in Westmins ter to be avoided.

The MP, who entered parliament in 2019, said she was told to avoid being alone with these politicians, adding that some were known for their "bullying or sexual misconduct".

Responding to criticism of the deleted WhatsApp list on Twitter, she said "the fact that the story is that I somehow did something wrong by sending this message , rather than...

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