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UK News

Christian campaigner: MP watching porn in parliament shows 'disturbing' lack of empathy for victims

by Tola Mbakwe

A Christian campaigner has said allegations of a Tory MP viewing pornography in parliament shows a "disturbing lack of empathy for victims". 

The Conservative Party said on Wednesday it was looking into reports that a male Tory frontbencher watched pornography on his phone in the House of Commons debating chamber.

Christian social policy charity CARE, which campaigns on the issue, said "harms" of pornography are "truly distressing".

It added that "the political class" must take account of porn's harms and questioned "the ability of those who enjoy vile porn videos in parliament itself to do so".

A 2018 report found that there were more than 24,000 attempts to access pornographic websites from parliamentary computers.

Tim Cairns, senior policy officer at CARE, said: "The idea that a member of parliament has watched pornography openly in the Chamber of the House of Commons, and potentially in other areas of the parliamentary estate, in front of colleagues shows two things.

"First, a cavalier attitude that ignores the feelings of others. Women MPs in particular are rightly aggrieved at encountering porn in their workplace. Porn is rife with misogyny and violence, and contributes to the objectification of women more widely.

"Secondly, it displays a disturbing lack of empathy for victims. The porn industry publishes videos of underage and non-consensual sex, rape, violence, and other vile behaviours. And children are damaged through encountering porn online. This MP appears not to care.

"The harms of the porn industry, and pornography consumption, are truly distressing. Our political class must recognize and take account of them and we'd question the ability of those who enjoy vile porn videos in parliament itself to do so.

"We call for tough action against any parliamentarian found watching pornography in the workplace, whatever the location and the context. The public expects more from elected representatives."

Conservative Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris, who is responsible for enforcing party discipline, is examining the complaints about pornography, his office said in a statement.

"This behaviour is wholly unacceptable and action will be taken," a Whips Office spokesperson said.

The Sun and the Mirror reported the accusation emerged during a meeting of Conservatives members of parliament on Tuesday evening in which female lawmakers shared accounts of sexism and harassment by their colleagues.

It follows a report in the Sunday Times that 56 members of parliament, including three senior ministers, are facing allegations of sexual misconduct after being reported to a parliamentary watchdog.

Asked by an opposition lawmaker on Wednesday whether those ministers should be sacked, Johnson told parliament: "Sexual harassment is intolerable and it's quite right that members should now have a procedure by which they can bring that to the attention of the highest authorities ... and of course it's grounds for dismissal."
 

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