ALL new MPs have been ordered to go on kindness courses in a bid to stop them bullying and sexually harassing staff.
The two-hour-long Valuing Everyone training course has been made mandatory for the 140 new MPs elected in Decembers general election.
All new MPs, pictured being welcomed to by new Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, have been ordered to go on kindness courses in a bid to prevent them bullying and sexually harassing staff
It was drawn up alongside a new Behaviour Code after a series of scandals plagued Westminster over the past two years forcing a series of ministers to resign.
One new MP said the session was a bit tedious, but added, we have to know all this stuff now.
Some of my new colleagues have come here having never managed anyone before.
The training, which MPs swiftly nicknamed kindness courses, has been open to all sitting MPs and their staff for the previous eight months.
But when it was voluntary, only 34 out of 650 MPs took up the opportunity, as well as only 135 of their 3,200 staff.
Commons officials said last night the new MPs were strongly encouraged to go on the course by House authorities, as well as their own parties.
So far, more than 100 of them have taken part, with more still to come.
A Commons spokesman added: Valuing Everyone training was offered to all new MPs in the new parliament to ensure everyone is able to recognise bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct – and feels confident taking action to tackle and prevent it.
The training had high levels of take-up.
An independent inquiry into bullying and harassment in parliament, held by Gemma White QC last year, recommended the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority withhold cash for MPs offices until they had completed the training.
