The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Probe into MP ‘sexual touching’ claims dropped
Parliament: Complaint will not be progressed
A parliamentary investigation into a north-east MP accused of engaging in “sexual touching” at an exclusive Westminster bar has been dropped, it can be revealed.
Parliament’s standards commissioner is understood to have ruled out investigating complaints that Aberdeen South MP Ross Thomson engaged in inappropriate behaviour at Strangers’ Bar on a technicality.
The commissioner’s office does not confirm or deny investigations, after controversial reforms last year, but a source close to the process told The Press and Journal that the complaint would not be progressed as the complainant was not a victim of the alleged behaviour.
The complaint is understood to have been made by an SNP researcher who was present in the bar at the time of the incident on Tuesday February 4.
Mr Thomson has consistently denied the allegations and when approached over the revelation that the commissioner had decided to rule out an investigation he said: “I have not been contacted by the commissioner at any point.
“My focus is 100% on getting on with the job of serving my constituents in Aberdeen South.”
Following widespread media reports of Mr Thomson’s alleged conduct last week the Tory MP decided to refer himself to an internal Conservative Party disciplinary panel.
The panel was due to convene this week but the meeting was put on hold after the complaint to the parliamentary standards commissioner was made.
Party officials have indicated that with the commissioner’s investigation now dropped the party investigation can resume, but as of yet Mr Thomson has not been interviewed as part of the process.
If the party panel concludes that further investigation is required, the matter will be referred to a QC who would be expected to report back in about six weeks.
Earlier this week Mr Thomson was targeted with a banner outside his constituency office in Holburn Street which read “Ross Thomson MP resign now: Aberdeen South Useless Gype”.