The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Johnson ally Thomson steps down as MP following sexual assault allegations
Article in Mail on Sunday accused official of ‘groping’ other man
Aberdeen MP Ross Thomson has announced he is standing down immediately as an MP following accusations which surfaced in a Sunday newspaper.
Mr Thomson, a Boris Johnson ally who ran the prime minister’s leadership campaign north of the border, was accused of “sexually assaulting” Glasgow-based Labour MP Paul Sweeney in an article in the Mail on Sunday.
He strenuously denies the allegation and has stated he is seeking advice on what actions to take in regard to the “damaging allegations”.
Mr Sweeney said he was “paralysed” with shock after Ross Thomson allegedly groped him while he spoke to friends in the Strangers’ Bar.
Mr Thomson, the incumbent for Aberdeen South, is now under investigation by Westminster’s standards watchdog over the alleged incident.
Mr Thomson said the decision to stand down was the hardest choice he has had to make.
He said : “I have made clear already today that the allegations printed in the Mail on Sunday are false and defamatory.
“This is a political smear and I will continue to fight to clear my name. I will see this investigatory process through to a conclusion.
“Anonymous and malicious allegations this year have made my life a living hell. It has been nothing short of traumatic. I have suffered a level of personal abuse that has affected my health, my mental wellbeing and my staff. It has been a level of abuse that I never imagined possible.
“I have therefore made the most difficult decision that I could ever make. I have decided that I will stand down as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate for Aberdeen South.
“I simply cannot thank my family, friends, staff and everybody who has shown we love, kindness and support for the past two years enough – and for the years before when I was an MSP and councillor.”
Simon Turner, Aberdeen City Conservative Association chairman, said: “We would like to thank Ross for his years of hard work for this city, as a councillor, an MSP and an MP for the last two years.”