Parliament is recruiting an investigator who will look into potentially career-shattering complaints including bullying, harassment, and sexual misconduct and other serious allegations. He or she will have to demonstrate “significant experience investigating high-profile, complex, and serious allegations that could result in career-ending sanctions”.
The role commands a salary of between £70,967 and £83,926. The appointment comes as the trade union representing many of the rank and file workers in Parliament has called for a culture change so people are no longer the victims of “harassment or intimidation”.
The successful applicant for the position of investigations manager will lead investigations into breaches of the code of conduct that MPs must adhere to, collecting and evaluating evidence while supporting the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Daniel Greenberg. He or she will play a key role in interviewing MPs and witnesses and preparing “impartial recommendations” at the end of an investigation.
The appointee will also over enquiries by external investigators into complaints of “harassment, bullying, or sexual misconduct by MPs”.
The official parliamentary guidance says bullying may include “verbal abuse, such as shouting, swearing, threatening, insulting, being sarcastic towards, ridiculing or demeaning others, inappropriate nicknames or humiliating language”. It may also involve “practical jokes, initiation ceremonies or rituals”, ostracism and physical and psychological intimidation”.
The investigator will be expected to keep “impeccable” records and must have “experience within a professional disciplinary system, regulatory body, or civil justice administration”. A further requirement is “experience assessing evidence, preparing impartial recommendations, and handling highly confidential material”.
He or she should have the ability to build relationships with high-profile people “while maintaining personal resilience” and be able to “demonstrate “political impartiality, preferably in a sensitive environment”.
A spokesperson for the PCS trade union pressed for culture change within the Palace of Westminster, saying: “Staff working in Parliament have the right to a safe, respectful workplace. MPs must adhere to the code of conduct and procedural protocols, and there needs to be clear policies and procedures to ensure any complaints made are properly investigated.
“Staff should never have to tolerate harassment or intimidation, and the culture in Westminster must change so that everyone can be treated fairly and safely.”
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards received 2,995 written allegations and enquiries in 2024-25. Sixteen code of conduct inquiries were completed, taking an average of 63 days.
