British Prime Minister Theresa May will take aim at those who post career-damaging rumours online as she calls for a new "culture of respect" at Westminster following the swirl of sexual harassment allegations.
May will use a speech to party leaders on Monday to push for a new cross-party agreement to stamp out inappropriate behaviour in parliament and the posting of rumours on social media.
The comments follow a notorious spreadsheet which contained allegations about the behaviour of dozens of MPs and ministers and was shared online.
First Secretary of State Damian Green, a senior Cabinet figure who is in effect May's deputy, has denied a Sunday Times report that police had found "extreme" pornography on his computer during an investigation nine years ago. He said he is the victim of a smear campaign.
Green already was being investigated for alleged inappropriate advances on a Conservative Party activist.
The allegations swirling through the British government in the aftermath of Hollywood's Harvey Weinstein abuse scandal go far beyond Green and former Defense Secretary Michael Fallon, who stepped down last week after reports of inappropriate behaviour.
The Welsh government's Cabinet secretary for communities and children, Carl Sargeant, said he resigned on Friday after allegations of his misconduct were made.
In Scotland, Mark McDonald, a minister for childcare from the Scottish National Party, resigned over past actions.
"We need to establish a new culture of respect at the centre of our public life," May will say in the speech.
"One in which everyone can feel confident that they are working in a safe and secure environment, where complaints can be brought forward without prejudice and victims know that those complaints will be investigated properly."
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