56 UK MPs facing allegations of sexual misconduct

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More than 50 MPs, including three cabinet ministers, were referred to a parliamentary watchdog and are reportedly facing allegations of sexual misconduct, The Guardian reported.

According to the Sunday Times, 56 MPs have been reported to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS).

The MPs have not been named, and at least one of the complaints made to the ICGS is believed to relate to a criminal offense.

This comes just over a week after Tory MP Imran Ahmad Khan submitted his resignation after being convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in 2008. The resigned MP is appealing against the conviction.

Earlier this month, another Tory MP, David Warburton, was also accused of a series of sexual harassment and cocaine use allegations that will be assessed by the ICGS, Warburton denied the allegations and insisted he has “enormous amounts of defense," the Guardian mentioned.

According to the website, "The FDA union, which represents civil servants, said it was time to “look again” at the employment relationship between MPs and their staff, while Labour MP Jess Phillips, the shadow minister for domestic violence and safeguarding, has urged the Speaker of the Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, to convene a panel of MPs and experts to look at the “power imbalance” in parliament."

A UK government spokesperson told the Sunday Times that “We take all allegations of this nature incredibly seriously and would encourage anyone with any allegations to come forward to the relevant authorities.”