MP calls for criminal record checks for parliamentarians

White said adding DBS checks in Parliament would raise vetting standards since “parties will not risk putting a candidate forward without” checking their criminal history themselves.

A DBS check would also allow the public to make more informed choices with their elected representatives.

At the same time, the change would “make Parliament a safer place to work”, she said.

“There would be no DBS check if I wanted a 16-year-old to come work in my office on work experience – that makes me worried,” she said.

During the last parliament, staff complained to the BBC about a “predatory” culture in the House of Commons, following a string of allegations about bullying and sexual harassment.

A DBS would help potentially weed out abusive candidates, and prevent them working in close quarters with junior staff, White said.

Despite her concerns, White said her campaign was not driven by fear of a hidden abuser working as an MP.

The majority of MPs “are here for altruistic reasons”, she said.