A former MP cleared of sexual misconduct against a Labour rival in a Westminster bar plans to sue his accuser.
Ross Thomson, who represented Aberdeen South from June 2017 to November 2019, also wants Scottish Labour to suspend Paul Sweeney and for the party to hold an investigation into his conduct.
Mr Sweeney, who at the time of the alleged incident in October 2018 was MP for Glasgow North East, is third on the Glasgow regional list and is likely to be returned as an MSP at May’s Holyrood election.
But any disciplinary procedure could put that spot in jeopardy.
The Labour politician claimed Mr Thomson groped him and tried to put his hands down the front of his trousers in Strangers’ Bar in the House of Commons on October 30, 2018.
The bombshell claims ended Mr Thomson’s political career, as he announced he would not run for re-election in 2019.
An investigator found no evidence of sexual assault and ruled the complaint was “raised maliciously” before the 2019 General Election.
The parliamentary commissioner for standards upheld the ruling of no sexual assault but rejected the finding that the complaint was malicious.
Mr Sweeney appealed, claiming “a key material witness” was not interviewed, but this was rejected by a review panel.
The investigator found “not just an absence of evidence” of sexual assault “but contrary evidence from witnesses who were present”.
In a letter to Mr Sweeney, Mr Thomson’s solicitors, Ledingham Chalmers, claim he suffered “substantial” damage to his career and reputation from the allegations and defamation action is being considered.
It states the firm has lodged an official complaint with the Labour Party and that Mr Thomson’s “greatest desire is to be able to incontrovertibly clear the stain on his character caused by these allegations”.
The letter adds that “while it may be possible to put a monetary value on the damage” a clear written apology from Mr Sweeney would, in Mr Thomson’s eyes, be “the most satisfactory compensation”.
The firm states that if he receives such an apology, Mr Thomson “is prepared to draw a line under matters”.
A further letter from Mr Thomson’s solicitors to Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, and to the party’s UK and Scottish general secretaries, questions whether Mr Sweeney is fit for office in light of the probe’s findings.
It states: “If the party has not made investigation into this matter to date, please treat this letter as a formal complaint against Mr Sweeney and confirm that it will be investigated under its disciplinary rules.”
The letter adds that pending an investigation’s conclusion, and given the seriousness of the allegations, it would be “appropriate” to suspend Mr Sweeney.
A Scottish Labour spokesman said: “We confirm receipt of this letter and will respond in due course. All complaints are handled in line with party procedures.”
Mr Sweeney made his complaint five months after the alleged assault and weeks after separate allegations were made against Mr Thomson, which saw police called to the same bar.
The standards commissioner ruled that witness accounts did not support claims of sexual assault and Mr Sweeney’s own account made it “highly unlikely” such behaviour would not have been seen.
