PARLIAMENT is riddled with bullies and sex pests who have been treated like "gods" for years, a damning report reveals today.
Horrific incidents of "bullying, harassment and sexual harassment" have been covered up by officials who want to protect the reputation of the Commons, according to an independent review of Westminster's culture.
MPs have been caught grabbing women's breasts and pestering them for sex, the probe finds.
The report by top judge Laura Cox calls on senior officials such as Speaker John Bercow to quit – warning that Parliament will never reform without new leadership.
Dame Laura was commissioned to write the report after The Sun exposed an epidemic of sexual harassment in Westminster.
Senior MPs including Mr Bercow have also been accused of bullying their staff.
The new report doesn't point the finger at any individuals – but it does reveal there are a number of "serial offenders" who are known to have harassed multiple workers.
It describes Parliament as a throwback to the days before society took sexual abuse and bullying seriously – and calls on guilty MPs to resign.
Dame Laura said: "I was presented with a series of serious allegations of abusive conduct made against particular individuals – both House staff and elected members – some of whom were referred to independently on a number of occasions and some of whom were regarded as 'serial offenders'.
"When reading this report some people may privately recognise their own behaviours in some of the alleged abusive conduct I have described.
"I would hope that a process of reflection leads them to consider what, if anything, they should now do in the best interests of the House."
The report describes "a culture, cascading from the top down, of deference, subservience, acquiescence and silence, in which bullying, harassment and sexual harassment have been able to thrive and have long been tolerated and concealed".
It calls for a "seismic shift" so that complaints can finally be taken seriously – including allegations which date back several years but weren't dealt with at the time.
In a body blow to Mr Bercow and the rest of the Commons leadership, Dame Laura insisted that only a change of personnel can make the difference that's needed.
She said: "I find it difficult to envisage how the necessary changes can be successfully delivered, and the confidence of the staff restored, under the current senior House administration."
MPs should be forced to undergo training which will educate them on how to treat staff properly, the report also recommends.
The review spoke to dozens of women who reported being touched up and verbally abused by pervy male MPs.
Politicians are said to have lunged at women, grabbed their breasts and bottoms, and even asked them for sex.
The report describes "groups of male MPs becoming increasingly boorish on occasions when they were together, of frequent sexual innuendos, lewd comments or sexual gestures, or women repeatedly being asked questions about their sex lives".
And it claims certain MPs – including some who are still serving in the Commons – were never allowed to be in a room alone with women because of their reputation for creepy behaviour.
Some staff told Dame Laura they had been "shocked by the almost godlike status accorded to MPs, who must always be treated with kid gloves".
Most MPs start by being "friendly and polite towards everyone", the report says – but some end up becoming bullies because they see veteran politicians behaving badly and getting away with it.
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Dame Laura was unable to investigate the specific claims against Mr Bercow or any other individuals because of the terms of reference she was given when she started her review.
A spokesman for the Speaker said: "This is a serious report into a serious subject which deserves a serious response.
"The House of Commons Commission will meet as a matter of urgency in the coming days to consider the report and our response to it."
A spokesman for the Commons added: "We thank Dame Laura Cox for this report which we are seeing today for the first time. Bullying and harassment have no place in the House of Commons, and the wellbeing of our people will always be our top priority."
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