One in five people working at Westminster has suffered or witnessed sexual harassment or inappropriate behaviour over the last 12 months, according to a leaked report by MPs.
The findings were compiled in a survey commissioned by politicians in response to allegations about the culture within Parliament, which was leaked to The Independent.
1,377 workers were surveyed, out of which 39 per cent had experienced bullying and harassment, 45 per cent of which were women, and 35 per cent were male.
The survey is due to be published today (8 February) by Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom, along with the expected publication of recommendations set up by a cross-party working group to combat inappropriate behaviour and bullying in Parliament.
The proposals are also 'expected to recommend establishing an independent grievance procedure to make it easier for victims to report complaints', The Independent claims.
The range of proposed penalties for offenders will include written apologies, mandatory training and future behaviour agreements.
MPs could even be ejected from Parliament by voters, while staff would lose their jobs.
Theresa May set up the cross-party working group of MPs and staff to prevent abuse and promote parity in the wake of allegations of sexual assault being made in Hollywood and beyond.
A source told the online paper: 'What is critically important for whether [new measures] succeed or not is that it changes culture, and people who work in Parliament feel that they are able to come forward without risking their future careers.
'You have a situation where 19 per cent, almost a fifth of people, are complaining that they have experienced or witnessed sexual harassment or inappropriate sexual behaviour here, versus the fact that the present respect policy has never had a complaint about sexual harassment.'
It comes after parliament marked the centenary of women's suffrage earlier this week (6 February).
Naomi Gordon is news writer mainly covering entertainment news with a focus on celebrity interviews and television.
