Efforts to curb abuse at Westminster incoherent - Louise Casey

A former government adviser has attacked efforts to tackle abuses of power in Westminster as "incoherent".

Baroness Louise Casey, who conducted a a damning review of Met Police culture, said a similar inquiry might be needed to address problems in Parliament.

A proposed rule change could see politicians accused of violent or sexual offences barred from Parliament.

However, Baroness Casey described the plans as "a half-cocked attempt" to deal with the problem.

Next week, MPs are expected to get a vote on whether to set up a which would have powers to bar MPs or peers deemed to pose a risk - even in cases where the police have not charged them.

Speaking to the BBC's Politics Live programme, Baroness Casey expressed frustration that the plan would set up "yet another ".

She said complaints about politicians' behaviour were currently managed by political parties, whips in Parliament, and an independent complaints system.

"The whole things feels a little bit unmanaged and incoherent," the crossbench peer said.

Asked if an external review was needed, Baroness Casey said: "My worry, partly because Westminster operates in a goldfish bowl, is that it's incredibly defensive to actually letting people come in and have a good root round and look at it, which is probably what it needs to get all this stuff out and sorted."

Baroness Casey is a former civil servant who, before carrying out the recent Met Police review, advised the government on subjects including homelessness and rough-sleeping

The debate about fixing behaviour in Westminster comes after months of fresh allegations of sexual misconduct against a number of MPs.