SNP MP Patrick Grady

Patrick Grady was found to have made an "unwanted sexual advance" to a member of party staff in 2016 - but the punishment was reduced because the ...

However the length of the suspension was shortened because, the panel said, the complainant "breached confidentiality repeatedly" in an attempt to discredit Mr Grady leading to "intrusive press activities and abuse on social media". The independent expert panel recommended that Mr Grady should be suspended from the House for two days for making an "unwanted sexual advance" to a member of party staff at a work social event in a pub in 2016. Patrick Grady was found to have made an "unwanted sexual advance" to a member of party staff in 2016 - but the punishment was reduced because the complainant was said to have breached confidentiality leading to "abuse on social media".

Patrick Grady should be suspended from Commons for 'unwanted physical touching with sexual intent', watchdog says.

“However, for all the reasons we have set out, in this case it should be short, and will be somewhat shorter than it might have been by reference to the breaches of confidentiality by the complainant. “I apologise to the complainant without reservation for my behaviour and for the distress and upset it has caused him.” He resigned from the role after the story of the complaint was reported by the Daily Record.

The report advises a two-day suspension after Mr Grady stroked a junior staff member's 'neck, hair and back'

The complainant told the panel that he felt “ambushed” at a meeting facilitated by Ian Blackford, the SNP’s Westminster leader, in February 2018 when Mr Grady apologised. “Great disparities of status and power exist. “If confidentiality is not maintained, there is a real concern that valid complaints will not be laid, and that witnesses will not be prepared to give their evidence,” the panel said. It concluded that: “an unwanted physical touching, with sexual intent, from a senior MP to a junior member of staff, even on a single occasion, is a significant breach of the policy. It was found that while the touching was not “intimate”, it was “nevertheless clearly sexual in intent and manner, and clearly inappropriate.” Where a considerable disparity of age and experience is added into the mix, it will be highly problematic to initiate a sexual relationship without the risk that there is no true mutuality.”

SNP MP Patrick Grady is set to be suspended from the Commons after being found to have committed sexual misconduct.

The Glasgow North representative was found to have made unwanted sexual advances to a 19-year-old party worker. In an apology from the MP induced in the report, the Scot said: "I accept the findings of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards in full and without reservation. The Independent Expert Panel (IEP), which investigates allegations of sexual misconduct in Parliament, has recommended Mr Grady be suspended from the House of Commons for two days, make a public apology in the House of Commons, and separately also apologise to the victim.

Former party chief whip Patrick Grady said he was 'profoundly sorry' for the behaviour which has left him facing a Commons suspension.

“We welcome Mr Grady’s apology and note that he previously apologised for this incident when the matter was dealt with informally in 2018. It must be marked by some period of suspension from the House.” A “second critical factor” noted was that the touching was “clearly sexual in intent” and was “exacerbated by the fact that the context was public, and drink had been taken”. “The complainant accepted the apology but made clear in his evidence that the circumstances of the informal resolution were difficult: he felt under pressure to accept the apology and felt ‘ambushed’ by Mr Blackford and Mr Grady, as he had no advance notice of why he was asked to go to Mr Blackford’s office, nor was he told that Mr Grady would be there,” the report said. “I should have been far more cognisant of the significant age gap of 17 years between myself and the complainant and I should have been far more appreciative of the perceptions other people have of me as an elected representative and the real and perceived power that we hold.” He accepted that on October 20 2016 at a SNP social event “I made an inappropriate physical advance to a junior member of SNP group staff”.

Ex-chief whip Patrick Grady was accused of the 'touching and stroking of the complainant's neck, hair, and back' during a 'work social event in a pub'

It must be marked by some period of suspension from the House.” It added: “Great disparities of status and power exist. An MP will be suspended from the Commons for making an "unwanted sexual advance" towards a junior staffer in a pub.

PATRICK Grady has apologised for making an "inappropriate physical advance to a junior member of SNP group staff."

“I repeat my apology without reservation to the complainant and extend that apology to you, Mr Speaker, to this House and its staff, to the residents of Glasgow North, my constituency staff, local party members, family, friends and anyone else who has been affected by my behaviour in any way." “I should have been far more cognisant of the significant age gap of 17 years between myself and the complainant and I should have been far more appreciative of the perceptions other people have of me as an elected representative and the real and perceived power that we hold.” "The breach is aggravated by a considerable disparity in age and authority between myself and the complainant and further aggravated by excessive consumption of alcohol on my part.

The MP, who has been suspended for two Commons sitting days, has said he is 'profoundly sorry' for harassing a junior male member of staff in 2016.

It could not be more evident that the reverse was the focus here. Complainants are treated like comms risks instead of human beings because in politics, image is given more importance than people.” It must be marked by some period of suspension from the House”. “The panel ‘justified’ reducing the sanction by blaming the staffer for how he handled a process that had already failed him. Because Mr Grady had “genuine remorse for his actions, that they were not repeated once rebuffed, and his efforts to address his behaviour since the incident”, he was suspended for just two sitting days, and required to make a public apology in the Commons and a private one to the complainant. Mr Grady did not appeal the IEP’s suspension and in his Commons apology said he was “profoundly sorry”, admitting that the case was “aggravated by a considerable disparity in age and authority between myself and the complainant and further aggravated by excessive consumption of alcohol on my part”.

The panel considering sanction noted that MPs are not banned from beginning sexual relationships with staff members but stressed that “it is obvious that ...

“It must be marked by some period of suspension from the house.” "My behaviour and the intent behind it was a significant breach of the behaviour code and the sexual misconduct policy of the UK parliament. Grady did not appeal that finding.

In an exclusive interview, the victim of sex pest SNP MP Patrick Grady has demanded he quits after being found guilty of sexual misconduct.

“I had no time to digest any of this information that was happening at the time. He is also scathing of an attempt to resolve the harassment informally in early 2018. He added: “It’s destroyed my mental health which in turn has had an effect on my physical health. They should be setting a precedent and an example. I think that it shows bad leadership. He said: “The SNP has made me feel like it’s my fault, even to this day. I’ve been cut out of email chains and other stuff you’d expect to have access to in a role like mine. However they showed every interest in protecting Patrick.” I feel like I’m being re-victimised all over again.” I’ve been cut out of meetings I normally attend with no explanation. I don’t accept his apology.” I’m cut out and isolated from work.

AN SNP MP who made an “unwanted sexual advance” to a teenage staffer should quit, the person he targeted has said.

A report into his conduct said that the Glasgow North MP “made an unwanted sexual advance to the complainant that included the touching and stroking of the complainant’s neck, hair, and back”. He also criticised the SNP’s handling of the situation, saying he has been made to feel as though it is his fault, and said his life has been a “living hell”. The man he targeted, who was 19 at the time, said he is “bitterly disappointed” at the “lenient” sanction.

SNP MP Patrick Grady is facing a two-day suspension from the Commons after he was found to have breached Parliament's sexual misconduct policy. The man he ...

He also criticised the SNP’s handling of the situation, saying he has been made to feel as though it is his fault, and said his life has been a “living hell”. The man he targeted, who was 19 at the time, said he is “bitterly disappointed” at the “lenient” sanction. A politician who made an “unwanted sexual advance” to a teenage staff member is not fit to be an MP and should stand down, his victim has said.

THE TEENAGE victim of sex pest Patrick Grady has called for the MP to stand down from Parliament.

“I had no time to digest any of this information that was happening at the time. She said: “Patrick Grady MP has received only two days suspension for sexually harassing a staffer who was 19. The respondent states that when it became apparent that his conduct was not welcome, he desisted." I’ve been cut out of email chains and other stuff you’d expect to have access to in a role like mine. However they showed every interest in protecting Patrick,” he added. When an internal SNP probe said he had deliberately and persistently pestered two women with “inappropriate and unwanted” messages, paid them “unwanted attention causing distress”, and was guilty of “exploiting his position of power,” the First Minister called on him to resign his seat. When an internal SNP probe said he had deliberately and persistently pestered two women with “inappropriate and unwanted” messages, paid them “unwanted attention causing distress”, and was guilty of “exploiting his position of power,” the First Minister called on him to resign his seat. “I think he owes an apology to all the staff and the group of MPs.” “He was hung out to dry as the SNP sought to cover up exactly what went on and has every right to be furious that Patrick Grady’s only punishment from the party is to lose the whip for two days. I don’t accept his apology.” I’ve been cut out of meetings I normally attend with no explanation. In their report, the panel said that Mr Grady "under the influence of alcohol, made a sexual advance to the complainant in the mistaken belief that this advance would be welcomed."