Former Parliament barmaid says 'staff were pestered for sex' at notorious Westminster bar
A NOTORIOUS Parliamentary bar faces a crackdown following allegations of late-night “harassment” of staff by MPs.
Former manager Alice Bailey branded some male politicians who used it as 'obnoxious old pervs'
Private firms will no longer run the Sports and Social Club, which will now be managed “in-house” like all other Westminster bars.
The Parliamentary authorities will also impose new restrictions on guest numbers and consider slashing the bar’s opening hours.
The sudden move comes just days after the sexual harassment scandal rocked Westminster, some of it centred on the Sports and Social which is close to the Commons chamber.
Yesterday the bar’s former manager Alice Bailey branded some male politicians who used it as “obnoxious old pervs”.
Ms Bailey worked at the bar for about four years from the age of 19
They fancied their chances because I was just a young barmaid and in their minds they were very important people who presumed I would be available
Ms Bailey, 25, who worked at the bar for about four years from the age of 19, claims up to 30 MPs hounded her for sex, with one allegedly following her home and groping her.
She said: “They fancied their chances because I was just a young barmaid and in their minds they were very important people who presumed I would be available.
“They were such creeps. It was pathetic as they were nearly all married and at least twice my age.”
Ms Bailey claimed that just two hours into her first shift one MP begged her for sex while a veteran Labour member once allegedly followed her home and groped her after drinking 12 pints.
Ms Bailey claimed that just two hours into her first shift one MP begged her for sex
She said he followed her on to a bus and “grabbed my thigh quite aggressively and said, ‘So what about that whisky, Alice?’”
Ms Bailey, who complained she was once ordered by her boss to wear a sexy Santa outfit for a Christmas party, added: “A lot of the MPs were put up at the Park Plaza Hotel just over Westminster Bridge.
“Many thought they were God’s Gift as they appeared on telly or in the papers. They would whisper their room number or drop the key card on the bar. It was pathetic.”
Her claims come as Parliament is rocked by a series of sleazy allegations, with several Conservative and Labour MPs being investigated over alleged sexual misconduct.
Michael Fallon quit as Defence Secretary
Last week Sir Michael Fallon quit as Defence Secretary after admitting his behaviour towards women had fallen short of standards.
Meanwhile, the PM’s deputy Damian Green is being investigated by the Cabinet Office over allegations of a clumsy pass and flirty text message to a Conservative activist.
He also denies separate claims that police found porn on his office computer in 2008.
Labour MP Kelvin Hopkins, 76, has been suspended after being accused of sexually assaulting party activist Ava Etemadzadeh, 27, when they met three years ago.
Fellow Labour MP Ivan Lewis has denied sexually harassing a teenage girl and former shadow minister Clive Lewis denies claims he groped a woman at Labour’s party conference in September.