An ex Labour MP has lodged an appeal after his claims of being sexually assaulted by one of Boris Johnson’s top Scottish backers were rejected.
Paul Sweeney has challenged a decision by a Westminster standards body after he complained about ex Scottish Tory MP Ross Thomson.
Sweeney, who used to be the MP for Glasgow North East, had accused Thomson of groping his backside and genitals at a House of Commons bar in October 2018.
He also said Thomson tried to put his hand down his trousers.
The allegations led to Thomson, who was the chair of Johnson’s leadership campaign in Scotland, quitting as a general election candidate last year.
After an investigation, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards cleared the former Aberdeen South MP.
She said Sweeney’s claims were not supported by evidence from witnesses and found no breach of sexual misconduct policy.
Although she agreed that Thomson had invaded Sweeney’s personal space, she also concluded this was not a breach of the policy.
The Daily Record understands Sweeney has submitted an appeal and an independent expert panel has been appointed.
Months before the Commissioner’s decision, Sweeney described the process as “shambolic”, adding:
“It’s just ridiculous. In any other workplace would a complaint get dealt with in this way? It shows you how shambolic the whole process is by the fact we’ve both now left parliament and it still hasn’t been resolved.”
He added: “It really overshadowed my time in Westminster, it created an unnecessary toxic undercurrent. Parliament shouldn’t be like that.”
In an interview after the Commissioner’s ruling, Thomson said: “I welcome the decision, the fact the truth is now out there, and that I can move on with my life now.
“The last two years have been really hellish, a living nightmare, I regret the length of time it has taken. It has been a really robust process.”
He said of his experience: “I don’t think anyone deserves that”.
Sweeney, who is considered to be a rising star in his party, is eyeing a political comeback.
He is trying to win a top slot on the Glasgow regional List for next year’s Holyrood election.
Thomson said: “In October, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards threw out false and malicious accusations made against me. The Commissioner’s decision was based on extensive evidence, including witness statements and CCTV footage, outlined in a thirty-page report.”
Sweeney declined to comment.
