Three cabinet ministers and two shadow ministers reported over 'sexual misconduct' claims

Claims of sexual misconduct have been made against three cabinet ministers, according to a new report. They were reported to a parliamentary watchdog set up after the #MeToo scandal, along with two shadow cabinet ministers.

They are among a total of 56 MPs who have been referred to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) in relation to 70 separate complaints, according to the Sunday Times.

Earlier this year, a Tory MP was suspended for a day for undermining the system for complaining about MPs' behaviour, reports the Mirror.

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The Commons Standards Commissioner found Daniel Kawczynski had caused "significant damage to the reputation" of the Commons as a whole, and "undermined" the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) with comments made to the media.

And in a scathing report, the cross-party Standards Committee, which recommends sanctions following the Commissioner’s investigations, accused Mr Kawczynski of “struggling with a capacity for genuine empathy with others.”

Mr Kawczynski spoke to the Daily Mirror following the publication of a previous report into his behaviour, which found he had acted in a “threatening and intimidating manner” towards workers after a tech glitch meant he was unable to join a committee hearing.

He was ordered to make an apology on the floor of the House. But the Standards Commissioner launched a second probe after Mr Kawczynski told the Mirror making the apology was "something I'm going to have to do" and he would use the "script he had been provided". He also admitted he had had "one large glass of wine" before making the phone call, but denied being drunk.