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Save the Children accused of wasting money over sexual harassment claims Save the Children accused of wasting money over sexual harassment claims
(21 days later)
The former chair of Save the Children has been accused of wasting hundreds of thousands of pounds on lawyers as the charity attempted to address reports of sexual harassment by senior staff.The former chair of Save the Children has been accused of wasting hundreds of thousands of pounds on lawyers as the charity attempted to address reports of sexual harassment by senior staff.
MPs on the international development select committee told Sir Alan Parker that it was wrong for a charity to spend cash raised for sick children on legal fees as the charity tried to stop the publication of stories about the sexual harassment of staff.MPs on the international development select committee told Sir Alan Parker that it was wrong for a charity to spend cash raised for sick children on legal fees as the charity tried to stop the publication of stories about the sexual harassment of staff.
Parker, the chair of the PR and lobbying firm Brunswick, denied wasting money, and claimed he was not trying to suppress stories but was instead trying to ensure that untruthful stories did not damage the reputation of the charity.Parker, the chair of the PR and lobbying firm Brunswick, denied wasting money, and claimed he was not trying to suppress stories but was instead trying to ensure that untruthful stories did not damage the reputation of the charity.
The exchange took place at a bruising committee hearing examining how Save the Children handled sexual harassment claims against its former chief executive Justin Forsyth and fellow former charity executive Brendan Cox.The exchange took place at a bruising committee hearing examining how Save the Children handled sexual harassment claims against its former chief executive Justin Forsyth and fellow former charity executive Brendan Cox.
Parker, a friend of Gordon Brown and David Cameron, also admitted that the charity had failed to inform the international charity Uunicef about the claims against Forsyth before he was hired by the UN agency.Parker, a friend of Gordon Brown and David Cameron, also admitted that the charity had failed to inform the international charity Uunicef about the claims against Forsyth before he was hired by the UN agency.
The committee member Nigel Evans asked whether it was right that the charity should have spent money on media lawyers who sent legal letters to the BBC and national newspapers.The committee member Nigel Evans asked whether it was right that the charity should have spent money on media lawyers who sent legal letters to the BBC and national newspapers.
Parker said he did not know how much the action, saying: “I think it was very important that the facts were put on the table.”Parker said he did not know how much the action, saying: “I think it was very important that the facts were put on the table.”
Forsyth faced three complaints of inappropriate behaviour towards female staff before leaving the charity in 2015. An internal report from the charity, which was leaked to the BBC, said that Parker’s “very close” relationship with Forsyth may have affected how he handled the complaints.Forsyth faced three complaints of inappropriate behaviour towards female staff before leaving the charity in 2015. An internal report from the charity, which was leaked to the BBC, said that Parker’s “very close” relationship with Forsyth may have affected how he handled the complaints.
Parker said Unicef was not told about the investigation into Forsyth, conducted by an independent law firm, because it was not a “formal disciplinary process”.Parker said Unicef was not told about the investigation into Forsyth, conducted by an independent law firm, because it was not a “formal disciplinary process”.
Parker, who stepped down from Save the Children this year after the aid sector sexual abuse scandal broke, also said he and other directors vetoed a £20,000 bonus awarded to Forsyth while the investigation was under way.Parker, who stepped down from Save the Children this year after the aid sector sexual abuse scandal broke, also said he and other directors vetoed a £20,000 bonus awarded to Forsyth while the investigation was under way.
Forsyth quit his role as deputy executive director of Unicef in April after the allegations of inappropriate behaviour emerged.Forsyth quit his role as deputy executive director of Unicef in April after the allegations of inappropriate behaviour emerged.
Parker said the charity had spoken with a third-party headhunter about Forsyth but that it was Save the Children’s policy “not to mention things if they have not been the subject of formal disciplinary process”.Parker said the charity had spoken with a third-party headhunter about Forsyth but that it was Save the Children’s policy “not to mention things if they have not been the subject of formal disciplinary process”.
He said: “It wasn’t a lucid formal process. It was a process but it didn’t formally trigger a formal disciplinary process which would have been marked, which would have been kept.”He said: “It wasn’t a lucid formal process. It was a process but it didn’t formally trigger a formal disciplinary process which would have been marked, which would have been kept.”
Asked whether it should have been flagged up, he said: “When I look back, there are a number of things we would have done differently.Asked whether it should have been flagged up, he said: “When I look back, there are a number of things we would have done differently.
“I think we would have done it in a way that would have settled it at each time more appropriately and I think very clearly there were quite specific HR failings in this, which I have to take on board as I was chairman at the time.”“I think we would have done it in a way that would have settled it at each time more appropriately and I think very clearly there were quite specific HR failings in this, which I have to take on board as I was chairman at the time.”
Chairman quits scandal-hit Save the ChildrenChairman quits scandal-hit Save the Children
At the hearings on Tuesday, Parker rejected a claim by the Conservative MP Pauline Latham that a formal written warning was not sent to Forsyth “because he was a friend of yours”, insisting the letter should have been in his file.At the hearings on Tuesday, Parker rejected a claim by the Conservative MP Pauline Latham that a formal written warning was not sent to Forsyth “because he was a friend of yours”, insisting the letter should have been in his file.
Parker also revealed that Cox, the widower of the murdered Labour MP Jo Cox, would have been suspended by the charity if he had not resigned.Parker also revealed that Cox, the widower of the murdered Labour MP Jo Cox, would have been suspended by the charity if he had not resigned.
Cox admitted this year that he made “mistakes” and behaved in a way that caused some women hurt and offence when he was working at the charity.Cox admitted this year that he made “mistakes” and behaved in a way that caused some women hurt and offence when he was working at the charity.
Parker said: “Of course Mr Cox at the time of his resignation, was still fully denying everything, and in his resignation letter was saying very clearly he felt this was unfair, he would not get proper justice, he was very very robust on this, and literally just left.Parker said: “Of course Mr Cox at the time of his resignation, was still fully denying everything, and in his resignation letter was saying very clearly he felt this was unfair, he would not get proper justice, he was very very robust on this, and literally just left.
“But from the moment we received the report on Brendan Cox – he was away at the time – we then moved to suspend him.”“But from the moment we received the report on Brendan Cox – he was away at the time – we then moved to suspend him.”
Parker was also asked why the board had chosen to replace Forsyth as chief executive with a charity trustee, Kevin Watkins.Parker was also asked why the board had chosen to replace Forsyth as chief executive with a charity trustee, Kevin Watkins.
Latham, the MP for Mid Derbyshire, said: “Does it not smack of jobs for the boys?”Latham, the MP for Mid Derbyshire, said: “Does it not smack of jobs for the boys?”
Parker replied that a thorough search had taken place for a new CEO and Watkins was the best candidate.Parker replied that a thorough search had taken place for a new CEO and Watkins was the best candidate.
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