Booing and jeering should be banned in the House of Commons to create a more “respectful” environment, a report suggests.

Sharing the post of MP – in which two people represent a constituency instead of one – should also be considered to allow more women to be elected to Parliament.

In the 2024 general election, 263 women were elected to the House of Commons out of a total of 650 MPs. At 40%, this is the highest proportion of women parliamentarians ever recorded, but lower than the 51% needed to reflect the national gender split.

The report, by 50:50 Parliament and Compassion in Politics, calls for a “reset” of the culture at Westminster, which it likens to an “old boys’ club” where abuse and bullying behavior is rife .

Prime Minister’s Questions, the weekly slot where the Prime Minister is questioned by the Opposition Leader, resembles a ‘playground’, ‘undermining’ MPs’ authority while potentially deterring, says report political people.

He said an immediate ban on booing and jeering would be “totemic” and help provide a good example of behavior to the public.

Meanwhile, workplace sharing for MPs – previously suggested by the Green Party and former Labor MP John McDonnell – would promote a better work-life balance.

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The findings come after Sky News reported last month that newly elected MPs had difficulty opening offices in their constituencies due to fears for their safety and soaring rents.

Several MPs who spoke to Sky News said they believed landlords were increasingly reluctant to have them as tenants because of the perceived risks of the job – including threats of vandalism and protests.

They said that, as a result, they felt less able to be visible in their community and to their constituents.

As part of the report, which has the backing of former Home Secretary Amber Rudd and former Labor communications chief Alastair Campbell, the 132 MPs who stood down at the last election were given a survey, to which only 24 responded.

Of those who responded, one in three said the levels of abuse they experienced as an MP had been a factor in their decision to resign, while another third cited the impact of the role on their mental well-being.

More than half said they had had to resign because of the impact of their work on their family life, including fear for their well-being, safety and that of others.

A former MP and minister told researchers he suffered a nervous breakdown during his time in Parliament.

“It was the most extreme experience of my life,” they said.

“The highs are wonderful. The lows are miserable. There are very few intervals in between. The collapse of public respect makes it impossible for the MP and his family. I had a nervous breakdown after my candidacy and again as minister.”

Another former MP described Parliament as an “uncontrolled playground for abuse”.

“Parliament is still run as a gentleman’s club, but the 19th-century gentleman’s norms have disappeared.

“Harassment and manipulation is normal and expected. And there are far too many staff learning bad habits, like drinking on the job. The whole palace is out of control and it’s the most depressing place where I’ve ever worked.”

Other recommendations put forward by the report include banning lying in Parliament to improve public trust in politicians, which it says is at an “historic low”.

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He cites a number of scandals that have damaged the public’s perception of politicians, including party door, the 2010 expenses scandal and instances where MPs were accused or convicted of sexual abuse or bullying, harassment and intimidation.

More recently, the Labor Party has been shaken by arguments over giftswith the party now leads the conservatives by a single pointaccording to a survey published last month.

The report also suggests an overhaul of the voting system in Parliament – ​​the means by which MPs are encouraged and persuaded to vote along party lines and follow orders from leaders – to “eliminate intimidation”.

The report will be submitted to Parliament modernization committeepromised in the Labor Party manifesto, and tasked with reforming the procedures of the House of Commons and improving standards.