The established MP's actions were found to be 'sexually motivated' and 'unwanted'
A spokesperson for the Labour Party announced: “This is an incredibly serious case. He explained that he found a four-week penalty to be “an excessive and unfair penalty” and appealed against it, but he is no longer able to “challenge the process further”. [MP ](https://www.standard.co.uk/topic/mp)who had represented the City of [Chester ](https://www.standard.co.uk/topic/chester)in Parliament since 2015. [Cheshire ](https://www.standard.co.uk/topic/cheshire)and gained a degree in economics and politics from the London School of Economics, before joining the Labour Party as a candidate in 2013. [abour](/topic/labour) [MP ](/topic/mp) [Christian Matheson has resigned](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/commons-member-of-parliament-chester-gmb-b1034373.html) after a report by a parliamentary watchdog upheld complaints of “serious sexual [misconduct](/topic/misconduct)”. The sexual misconduct allegations that were upheld explained that the MP’s behaviour ranged from attempting to kiss the member of staff on her mouth and making her hold his hand, to commenting on her appearance “while looking at her suggestively”.
Christian Matheson invited an ex-staff member on a "sexually motivated" trip abroad, a report says.
"There must be a zero tolerance for sexual harassment and the Labour party has acted immediately following the ICGS findings. He said he had appealed against the four-week suspension which he believed to be "an excessive and unfair penalty" but he was now unable to "challenge the process further". He said: "This has proven not to be the case and I am dismayed that I have been found guilty of several allegations that I know to be untrue." In his resignation statement, triggering a by-election, Mr Matheson said he accepted he had committed a minor breach of the code and had hoped that "an honest and open approach" would stand him in a "fair" light. A spokesperson for Labour said there must be a "zero tolerance for sexual harassment", adding the party acted immediately following the report findings. He admitted he had committed a minor breach of the code and tendered his resignation with "great sadness".
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards upheld two allegations of sexual misconduct against Mr Matheson made by a former member of staff.
"In no other workplace would someone being investigated for such serious offences be free to continue visiting it. "I would ask for privacy for my family. "Whilst I believe that this is an excessive and unfair penalty, I cannot challenge the process further. "I will forever be grateful to my constituency, and my party, for giving me the honour to serve, and I apologise to the people of Chester, and to the House of Commons, for the disrepute I have brought. A Labour spokesperson said: "This is an incredibly serious case. "This has proven not to be the case and I am dismayed that I have been found guilty of several allegations that I know to be untrue.
Move will trigger byelection in Chester after panel finds he breached Commons' sexual misconduct policy.
However, he also disputed the findings of the reports, saying there were provable factual inaccuracies, and saying he had “no sexual motivation in this matter”. “Some of the allegations involved tittle tattle about relationships between consenting adults. Matheson has been the Labour MP for Chester since 2015. He said the process had taken a toll on his health, including hospitalisation, and he was requesting privacy. In his excuses and denials, which he continues to persist in, he has sought to sow self-doubt and confusion in the mind of the complainant about his behaviour. That is quite unwarranted,” it said.
The independent panel concluded there was 'no doubt' the MP was 'seeking to initiate a sexual relationship with the complainant, his junior employee'.
I once again apologise to the complainant in my case, for the hurt I have caused.” I believe that the honourable and right thing to do now is to resign my seat and seek to rebuild my life elsewhere. We will now select a candidate that the people of Chester can be proud to vote for.” Whilst I believe that this is an excessive and unfair penalty, I cannot challenge the process further. “From the start I accepted I had committed a minor breach of the code and had hoped that an honest and open approach would stand me in a fair light. There will now be a by-election in the constituency.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards upheld two allegations of sexual misconduct against Mr Matheson by a former member of his staff.
“Therefore, I faced a suspension from the House of four weeks. He said: “I will forever be grateful to my constituency, and my party, for giving me the honour to serve, and I apologise to the people of Chester, and to the House of Commons, for the disrepute I have brought. The former MP asked for privacy and thanked his constituents and Conservative party for "allowing him to serve". "This has proven not to be the case and I am dismayed that I have been found guilty of several allegations that I know to be untrue. He said: “From the start I accepted I had committed a minor breach of the code and had hoped that an honest and open approach would stand me in a fair light. The panel said it took into account the fact that Mr Matheson accepted that he had breached the sexual misconduct policy, but he failed to acknowledge the full extent of his misconduct.But determined that Christian Matheson should be suspended from the House for four weeks.
A Labour MP has resigned after Westminster's sleaze watchdog recommended he should be suspended for “serious sexual misconduct”.
While there he had “invited her back to his flat, kissed her twice on the forehead and attempted to kiss her on the mouth” the report said. It is understood that Labour’s Chief Whip spoke to Mr Matheson and told him that he has lost the whip and he should stand down as an MP. During a work event held outside the Parliamentary estate, the victim said he had also “made personal comments about her appearance while looking at her suggestively; made her hold his hand as they left and insisted on accompanying her to her bus stop”.
Chester MP Christian Matheson triggers byelection – despite denying 'sexually motivated' invitation to a staff member to travel abroad.
[Terms of use,](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/user-policies-a6184151.html) [Cookie policy](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/cookie-policy-a6184186.html) and [Privacy notice.](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/privacy-policy-a6184181.html) [Privacy policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en) and [Terms of service](https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en) apply. By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism “This has proven not to be the case and I am dismayed that I have been found guilty of several allegations that I know to be untrue. He requested “privacy for my family” and said the investigation had “caused a great toll on my health, requiring my hospitalisation”, adding: “I once again apologise to the complainant in my case, for the hurt I have caused.” “From the start, I accepted I had committed a minor breach of the code and had hoped that an honest and open approach would stand me in a fair light,” he wrote. The Standards Commissioner upheld allegations that the MP made an “unwanted” invitation to the former staff member to travel with him and put her “under pressure and intimidated her”. [Chester](/topic/chester) MP, denies the allegations – of a “sexually motivated” invitation to a staff member to go on a private trip abroad – but announced he is standing down. [Labour](/topic/labour) MP has resigned and triggered a byelection after a watchdog called for him to be suspended from the Commons for “serious sexual misconduct”.
The Independent Expert Panel parliamentary watchdog had recommended he be suspended from the Commons for 'serious sexual misconduct'.
A Labour spokesperson said: “This is an incredibly serious case. It is understood that the Labour Party launched an investigation and immediately suspended Mr Matheson from Labour Party membership in light of the report. The Commissioner concluded that these were all unwanted and unwelcome sexual advances”.
Mr Matheson, who denied the allegations, was facing a four-week suspension and had been asked to stand down as City of Chester MP by Labour. The Independent ...
With a regular donation to our monthly Fighting Fund, we can continue to thumb our noses at the fat cats and tell truth to power. The Morning Star is unique, as a lone socialist voice in a sea of corporate media. A Labour spokesperson said: “This is an incredibly serious case. “We will now select a candidate that the people of Chester can be proud to vote for.” Ms Stone concluded that Mr Matheson had invited his former member of staff on a private trip abroad and “the invitation was sexually motivated, unwanted, and had placed the complainant under pressure and intimidated her,” according to the report. “I have today, with great sadness, tendered my resignation as Member of Parliament for the City of Chester,” Mr Matheson said in a statement.