- "Pestminster" rumours were reignited by the arrest of a male MP accused of rape and sexual assault.
- MPs told Insider of times they were harassed, and widespread rumors of wrongdoing.
- Many considered the problem to be endemic in UK politics. Some MPs worry about being falsely accused.
When the news broke on Tuesday evening that a Conservative MP had been arrested on suspicion of "indecent assault, sexual assault, rape, abuse of position of trust, and misconduct in public office," naturally people began asking who it was.
Names quickly circulated throughout Westminster, while others trended on social media.
Rumours have been floating around about one current minister for several months – and this individual was soon texting other MPs to clear his name, sources told Insider. Those sources asked not to be named to frankly describe the conversations.
Another MP's name was suggested as a possible match, a man who was alleged to have raped a staffer. But one source told Insider the victim there "was not going to the police apparently," seeming to rule the name out.
Consensus built up quickly around a third MP whose profile seemed to fit with the dates the alleged offences are said to have taken place.
That these claims circulate freely and in such number is a sign that many in Westminster consider sexual abuse an endemic feature of working at the top level of UK politics.
For now, it appears the name will remain secret. The Tory chief whip, Chris Heaton-Harris, does know the man's identity, but did not name him. Instead the accused MP was ordered to stay away from Parliament until the police investigation has concluded.
There may also be legal reasons not to name the accused MP, as it could lead to alleged victims being identified, in breach of UK law.
The fact that so many MPs could plausibly be believed by their colleagues to be an alleged rapist speaks to a wider problem in what some term "Pestminster," a reference to a widespread and longrunning culture of sexual misconduct.
There are the known cases, several of which involve Conservative politicians: Imran Ahmad Khan, who was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy; David Warburton, who has been suspended over sexual harassment allegations; Neil Parish, who resigned after being outed as the porn-watching MP; Rob Roberts, who is back in the Commons having received a six-week suspension for sexually harassing a staff member; Andrew Griffiths, who was found to have raped and abused his wife; Charlie Elphicke, who was jailed for two years for having sexually assaulted three women.
Labour is not immune, with cases involving MPs such as Mike Hill, who stepped down after a tribunal found he had sexually assaulted a staffer.
The SNP, meanwhile, is still in the midst of a row about having allowed former chief whip Patrick Grady continue in his job as the party attempted to resolve harassment allegations internally.
Beyond named individuals, there are also cases that are whispered about, extending far beyond the allegations that became public on Wednesday night.
The Sunday Times reported last month that three unnamed members of Johnson's cabinet were among 56 MPs facing allegations of sexual misconduct, and had also been reported to Parliament's Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme.
MPs told Insider that some colleagues have to have a "minder" to ensure they don't harass people in Westminster bars.
Sources, including a former Labour whip, said there is a list in circulation of MPs whom either women or men – sometimes both – are advised not to be alone with.
One male backbencher told Insider about a recent instance where he was harassed by another male MP, to the extent that party whips had to intervene.
The stories run on, including one about a senior backbencher who sent inappropriate messages to a female staffer.
There is another about two MPs who, colleagues say, fell out because one of them "stole" the other's favourite "rent boy."
There are tales of "frat boy" parties at MPs' London flats, fuelled with booze and cocaine and an "anything goes" approach to sex.
Also part of the picture are the MPs whose problem drinking is said to be linked to multiple affairs, sometimes involving aides in their employ, opening the door to questions about that inherent imbalance of power.
Among serving MPs, the return of this narrative of sexual abuse is provoking weariness, anger and frustration that they may be "tainted" by some of their colleagues. Many fear more scandals are yet to come out.
And while the rumours rattle around the place, action remains slow and limited. The latest case, for example, was first raised with the police in 2020.
One female backbencher told Insider: "It won't be the last, sadly... This is why we need more women."
Another said that after the delay in sanctioning Parish, the MP who watched porn in parliament, the whips' office should have be more pro-active in this latest case.
"I am v unhappy that [he is] not suspended," the MP told Insider. "Whoever it is in police custody."
A male Conservative MP told Insider there will "probably be half a dozen rapists [named] this year", and that he was fed up with "all rumour and sadness".
The delay in naming Parish led to speculation about who had been watching porn in the Commons chamber.
When the Tiverton MP was eventually named, another Conservative whose name had been linked with the scandal told the party's WhatsApp group that "a small number of colleagues owe me an apology", messages seen by Insider confirm.
During Wednesday's PMQs the benches behind Boris Johnson were packed full of male MPs – something sources said was a sign that men of a certain age were looking to stop wagging tongues.
"I hate some of my colleagues and not sure I can stand again," the male Tory source added. "Sleaze is corrosive... Winning the election is easy enough, it is living with it [that's the problem]. I don't ever want people wondering if it is me."