UK Parliament Could Vet MPs' Records in White Ribbon Plan

The UK Parliament just became the first legislature on the planet to earn White Ribbon accreditation, a three-year commitment to stamp out violence against women. The cross-party push, led by Labour MP Emily Darlington, got backing from Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle and parliamentary staff.

What does that mean in practice? MPs and peers could soon need a criminal record check before they get a security pass. Anti-harassment and bystander training — teaching people how to spot and step in — are on the table, along with tougher behaviour standards. Parties might have to sign an agreement that new MPs clear a record check first.

Parliament has long been called a boys' club rife with sexism and harassment. A 2018 survey found nearly 20% of people there had seen or experienced sexual harassment, and a hotline for complaints about the 'Pestminster' culture got hundreds of calls. By 2023, more than two-thirds of female MPs said they'd witnessed sexist behaviour.

Darlington didn't mince words. 'This place was a boys' club for 300 years, and the comparatively recent presence of women has yet to be fully adapted to,' she said. She called the accreditation a huge step toward making Parliament safe for women and girls to work, visit, and get elected.

The plan won praise across the aisle. Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty called it 'hugely positive,' and Lib Dem president Josh Babarinde said he was proud to stand with cross-party colleagues in the fight. White Ribbon started in Canada, tied to the December 6 anniversary of the 1989 Montreal massacre that killed 14 women.