Labour MP 'damaged' by Westminster sexual misconduct

The comments came in an interview given to BBC's Panorama, which was broadcast on Monday, July 17.

Ms Nichols, the Labour MP for Warrington North, discussed sexual misconduct in Westminster, as well as why she did not report an instance of misconduct that she was victim to.

The Labour MP discussed the 'toxic' environment in Westminster (Image: Parliament TV)

Speaking to the BBC's Naga Munchetty, Ms Nichols said: "In my first few days [in Westminster] I sat down to have a drink, and when sat there someone came in and all the staff started whispering.

"I was like 'What's [going on]?' and they said he was notorious for being a pervert."

She added: "I've never been in a workplace where in my first week other people who work here have reeled off a list of people who are - in their view - sexual predators."

When asked about her 'list' of individuals that she was warned to steer clear of in Parliament, Ms Nichols said: "In terms of sexual misconduct, harassment and so on, it's about 30 [names long]."

The conversation then turned to disgraced ex-Labour MP Geraint Davies, who was suspended by the Labour Party after 'incredibly serious' allegations of 'unacceptable behaviour.'

Mr Davies remains a Member of Parliament.

Ms Nichols was the first person who experienced sexual misconduct from Geraint Davies to identify herself (Image: BBC)

Speaking about an incident involving Davies, Charlotte Nichols said: "There was one evening after a very late vote that we had where I came down to the cash machine to draw some cash out to get a taxi home at the end of the night, and on that corridor there's no CCTV, it's not really that widely used at that time of the evening.

"So, it was quiet and he came up behind me when I was at the cash machine, put his hand on the back part of my waist and said 'I'm glad we get to go home now.'

"At the end of the day, if people are getting away with some of the lower-level behaviour, that person starts to feel like they are untouchable."

The Warrington North MP was asked by the BBC as to why she did not report this misconduct straightaway.

She replied: "The main issue is the amount of time that it takes to resolve these sorts of cases, which can often be years rather than weeks or months.

"The person that you've complained about can carry on doing whatever they're doing right up until the final report.

"Alongside the time that it takes to resolve these cases is actually the lack of effective sanctions."

The in-depth interview was part of a Panorama investigation into the culture of Westminster (Image: BBC)

Ms Nichols believes that sexual misconduct undermines Parliament: "If we can't uphold the standards that we're expecting other workplaces to do, how do we have any legitimacy or credibility?"

When asked whether she felt 'damaged' by the environment of Westminster, Ms Nichols said that she did.

She added: "There's not a sense of hope or optimism from me that things are going to change."