Independent report on bullying and harassment in House of Lords
10 July 2019
In 2018, Naomi Ellenbogen QC was appointed to conduct an inquiry into the nature and extent of bullying and harassment (including sexual harassment and any systemic behaviours) experienced by past and present members of the House of Lords and their staff, and Administration staff employed by the House of Lords. Her report was published on 10 July 2019.
In response to the report, the Lord Speaker, Lord Fowler, speaking as Chairman of the House of Lords Commission and on its behalf, said:
“In December 2018 we established an independent inquiry into bullying and harassment in the House of Lords which was carried out by Naomi Ellenbogen QC. Today the report has been published. We thank Naomi Ellenbogen for her report and analysis and we are grateful to all who contributed to her work.
“We have already made important improvements including introducing a Parliament-wide Behaviour Code, an Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme and appointing a new Conduct Committee to which lay members will be appointed shortly, but there is still a great deal of work to do.
“We will be carefully considering Naomi Ellenbogen's report to determine how we can effectively take the recommendations forward. The next Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday 17 July.
“Everyone deserves a workplace which has high standards of behaviour and mutual respect. Bullying and harassment have no place in the House of Lords. This report is an important step in ensuring we, the Commission, and the House of Lords Administration, can work together to achieve that goal.
“It is because we are committed to this that we asked for this inquiry to be conducted. We are determined to address the issues the report highlights and to make the House of Lords better.”