Caroline Lucas, co-leader of the Green Party and MP for Brighton Pavilion, described the cross-party report as a “wake-up call”.

“Westminster is a very toxic environment; we know that it’s an environment that reeks of privilege. That’s why this report is so important,” she said, during an appearance on the Victoria Derbyshire programme on BBC Two.

“People should be able to have a right to expect a safe and dignified working environment. The fact that we’re having to work so hard just to catch up, I think, is a pretty strong indictment of the processes that we’ve had to date.”

Currently, procedures for tackling sexual misconduct in Westminster are outlined by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). However, MPs are not contractually required to follow these procedures, prompting Theresa May to describe them as “toothless” and call for reform in October.

Several prominent figures were forced to resign last autumn after being accused of sexual misconduct, including ex-defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon (who was accused of inappropriate behaviour by multiple women), and former international trade minister Mark Garnier, who admitted calling his secretary “sugar tits” and asking her to buy him sex toys.

The proposals will be debated by MPs later this month.

Images: Pexels / Rex Features

Sexual harassment is an even bigger problem in Westminster than previously thought