By Tony O’Reilly-
A former parliamentary staff member has come forward with harrowing details of alleged “physical, emotional, and psychological abuse” at the hands of the Member of Parliament he once worked for, leaving him a “broken shell of the young man I once was.”
The accusations against Peter Bone,(pictured) a Conservative MP, have led to his suspension and raised concerns about the handling of complaints within the political party.
The former assistant, who remains anonymous due to the nature of the allegations, shared his experiences in an exclusive interview with the BBC.
He described a tumultuous period of working with Bone, during which he endured relentless abuse, including verbal and physical mistreatment.
“Peter’s behavior was erratic. His temper was often explosive,” he said. “Like a pendulum, he would go from one kind of personality to another. It was very hard to predict, and that kind of left me feeling quite under siege.”
The abuse reportedly left the individual diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, affecting his mental and physical well-being for years to come.
In September 2017, the former staff member filed a complaint with the Conservative Party, initiating an investigation that dragged on for over a year.
During this time, he alleged that he “continually chased” the party for updates, only to receive “dismissive” responses. This lack of urgency and communication left him feeling trapped in a state of uncertainty and “limbo.”
It wasn’t until the former staff member submitted a formal complaint to Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) in 2022 that the Conservative Party’s investigation gained traction.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Peter Bone was promoted by Boris Johnson to the position of deputy leader of the House of Commons. The former staff member described this decision as “deeply disrespectful.”
The exasperated complainant withdrew from the process, refusing to participate in an “adversarial” hearing that would have involved being cross-examined by Bone. Instead, the ICGS carried on with its investigation.
The findings of the Independent Expert Panel (IEP) were unequivocal. They determined that Bone had breached sexual misconduct rules by indecently exposing himself to the staff member during an overseas trip.
The IEP also upheld five allegations of bullying, including verbal abuse, physical violence, and throwing objects.
Bone denied the allegations and appealed against the investigation’s findings, but his appeal was ultimately dismissed. The watchdog recommended a six-week suspension from the House of Commons, which led to the Conservative Party withdrawing the whip, making Bone an independent MP.
A crucial vote by MPs could trigger a recall petition, potentially leading to a by-election in Bone’s constituency of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, should 10% of voters sign the petition.
The former staff member expressed relief following the publication of the findings but stressed the need for independent oversight of political parties, aiming to ensure that individuals who have suffered abuse can bring their experiences to light.
This case sheds light on the importance of addressing workplace abuse and harassment within the political arena and advocates for a more transparent and accountable system for handling such complaints.