MP Named as Neil Parish

MissAdventure

I'm sure they could find another way to have access to breaking news.

Like what?

I can't remember the detail, but wasn't there something that broke in the middle of PMQs recently? Probably to do with Partygate. As I say, I can't remember, but it enabled a question to be asked before the spin doctors decided on the answers.

Having phones also allows people to check things like Hansard to check whether lies have been told and so on. I know it can seem rude when they are all sitting scrolling, and I'm sure at least some of them are doing their grocery shop, but I think we need to move with the times, really.

A live screen, beaming breaking news as it happens.

MissAdventure

A live screen, beaming breaking news as it happens.

How would they concentrate on what is going on in the commons? It would be like being in the pub with Bargain Hunt on silent - you can't help but be drawn to look at a screen, even when there's no sound.

I used to get angsty when students had phones out during classes, but came to realise that often they were looking up things to add information, or to clarify something they didn't understand, and I lightened up about it. It took a bit of getting used to, but now I am, I don't think it does any harm, and I'd much rather people could look up things they wanted to check than have something beamed in to the whole class - who would decide what breaking news should be broadcast, anyway?

How can they concentrate when they're on their phones?
Oh, that's right - they can't.
The lure of looking at tractors is just too much.

Ok.

Why on earth did he think that was the thing to do? I find it baffling. Tractors or porn. No excuse for either.

Katie59

Very important to have a knowledge of tractors in Devon!,
ooo argh.

I know nothing about tractors!

Because they think the world revolves around them, and they've been right, so far.
Where else, what other workplace allows employees to be pictured asleep, flouting laws, doing the most outrageous things, unchallenged?
Nowhere in the real world of work.

Zoejory

Why on earth did he think that was the thing to do? I find it baffling. Tractors or porn. No excuse for either.

varian

Whenever any of these men are accused of misdemeaners, their mobile phones should immediately be confiscated and thoroughly searched

Jess Phillips, Labour’s shadow minister for domestic abuse and safeguarding, says it appeared that Parish ‘of his own admission’ had committed a criminal offence under the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981.

The Act is rarely enacted but if it is, sentences range from a fine to up to two years in prison. Parish has clearly breached Section 1 of the Ministerial Code which directs ministers to "behave in a way that upholds the highest standards of propriety." In view of all else that is going on with certain other MPs, police just might decide to have a close look as exactly what Parish has been viewing.

If he were to be investigated, the Act says that "A constable may seize any article which he has reasonable grounds for believing to be or to contain indecent matter and to have been used in the commission of an offence under this Act."

Sarah Vine has an excellent piece in the DM this morning. She details the kind of pornography she saw as part of investigative journalism. Unusually, it seems I share a similar view to Vine, at least on the issue of pornography.
I’ve never wanted to watch it. My work experience convinced me of the harm it causes.
Watching porn at work would get you sacked in most places.

At least Parrish has resigned - on the other hand Johnson………..

Whitewavemark2

At least Parrish has resigned - on the other hand Johnson………..

“The situation was that - funnily enough it was tractors I was looking at. I did get into another website that had a very similar name and I watched it for a bit which I shouldn’t have done. But my crime – biggest crime – is that on another occasion I went in a second time.”

When asked whether viewing the porn for a second time had been deliberate, Parish said: “That was deliberate... that was sitting waiting to vote on the side of the chamber.”

I admire his honesty. Of course, he got caught - but even so, it's a refreshing change from the usual fudging and excuses by so many others.

Watching porn in the workplace is inexcusable.

However, unlike many on here, I don't believe that the use of phones should be routinely banned at any time during an MP's working day under normal circumstances.

I'm no expert, but it seems to me that an MPs job can involve a huge amount of unproductive time sitting in Parliament, whether sitting or standing around waiting for votes, or just because they are expected to be present, and nothing more (other than to jeer or cheer on cue, depending on who has just spoken) at some sessions.

How would these MPs ever find the time to work effectively on behalf of their constituents, the people who they have been elected to represent, if they could never make or take messages during that time, or even, if their full attention is not actually required, research pressing issues that they are currently dealing with in their constituency?

The phone is a mobile computer, an essential work tool that can be needed at any moment.
That doesn't excuse its misuse in any way, but let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater!

Well he fudged as long as he could till it went into melt down!

He was certainly honest. We have come to a pretty pass when it takes a porn watching in the workplace MP to set an example on how to behave.

He has finally admitted he watched it twice in the House once "accidentally" and the second time deliberately He has now resigned as he should have at the beginning I'd make them leave their phones outside and concentrate on House business

MPs managed just fine before mobile phones came into being.

They should switch them off when they are supposed to be listening to a debate, and then voting on the issue.

Out of curiousity, I put "tractors" into the net search engines.....no porn sites came up, just endless ads for John Deere, and two tractor shows...?

I think he fudged until his wife told him to sort himself out and resign.

Tip of the iceberg I think - there needs to be a whole culture change - all these public school boys with their warped morality need to be gone and some normal human being brought in.

I don't think they should have to leave their phones outside, they're not 12 year olds.

I just think we should elect people who know that looking at porn in a public place is not what grown ups do

I find myself feeling a bit sorry for Parrish, he's a man out of time and his life is probably ruined. It's his own responsibility, for sure, but he has at least taken that responsibility and resigned, unlike his boss.

At least he showed humility and seemed genuinely ashamed and did the right thing in resigning. Our Prime Minister could take a leaf out of his book.
Tractors can be very annoying around the narrow lanes of Devon where I live.

I have never accidentally watched Bargain Hunt in the pub

.

I suppose he couldn’t offer the excuse of doing it to test his eyesight or get his pals to try to change the rules or say that he thought it was a work requirement.Resigning was the only option left to him.

Was Parish honest of his own accord or was he pressurised into owning up? He was interviewed by Darren McCaffrey on GB News days before his confession and gave no indication that he was the guilty party.

The Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme, set up in the wake of sexual harassment and bullying claims is a slow process. Some 43 complaints against MPs have been investigated in the last three years.

It is my understanding that several collagues were concerned about press speculation and leaks while due process was served. It would not surprise me in the least to learn that Parish had "taken one for the team" to cover up a wider problem. I’m with Jess Phillips on this and think he should be investigated by the police.

I suspect the vast majority of people with a bit of time to kill whether it’s waiting for the bus or waiting for a division bell can find something to do other than look at porn. I am sick and tired of sexually incontinent MPs.