The ICGS, set up in 2018 in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations against MPs, said alcohol was a “frequent factor” in its investigations.
Its annual report, published on Tuesday, said regular theme in its investigations were Parliament’s many bars, where alcohol consumption is “leading to intimidating behaviour like shouting and swearing”.
Alcohol was affecting the ability of witnesses to recollect incidents, it said.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Daniel Greenberg, said in July there had been “behaviour problems” linked to drinking in Westminster.
He told Times Radio that “it is something that again requires to be kept under review” but argued “individual MPs will obviously decide what works for them”.
Blurred lines
There are lots of bars and restaurants in the Palace of Westminster, which is situated in central London, for the use of MPs, peers, staff and other passholders.
And there are dozens of clubs, bars and restaurants in Whitehall attended by MPs and their staff.
The ICGS report also said the “blurred boundaries” between personal and professional life were at the heart of multiple complaints about inappropriate behaviour.
“A lack of professional boundaries resulted in incorrect assumptions being formed about acceptable behaviours,” the report said.
“Examples include invitations to events where the purpose or connection to parliamentary work may not be clear, overly frequent calls/messages and at unreasonable hours, and overly familiar behaviour.”
The report found “most cases” the ICGS dealt with related to a power imbalance, with the person being complained about having direct power over a complainant. This power gap was often “amplified where staff were in their first job or at very early stages in their career”, the report added.
The report also noted that including cases where “managers were bullied” by the staff they managed.
Elsewhere in the report revealed the ICGS helpline got fewer calls this year – 479 compared to 701 last year – but the number of formal complaints was in line with last year.
The ICGS budget was increasing 13.3% to £1.87m in 2023-24, the report revealed.
