Prime Minister Theresa May yesterday called for a "culture of respect" in Britain's parliament as she prepares to hold cross-party talks on how to crack down on sexual abuse after a slew of scandals.

About a dozen MPs from both May's Conservative Party and the main opposition Labour Party have been accused of harassment in recent days and the government has admitted serious failures in reporting procedures.

At closed-door talks in the House of Commons yesterday, May met party leaders including her main rival, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Speaking to the Confederation of British Industry ahead of the meeting, May said she wanted "a new, common, robust and independence grievance procedure for parliament".

Defence secretary Michael Fallon resigned last week and First Secretary of State Damian Green, May's deputy, is under investigation by the government over the claims, some of which date back several years.