Patrick Grady faces Commons suspension over sexual harassment complaint

After a lengthy investigation, the Independent Expert Panel recommended Mr Grady "be suspended for two sitting days (not including Fridays), make an unreserved apology to the House by way of a personal statement, and also make a private written apology to the complainant.”

The panel said the punishment would have been harsher, had the complainant not leaked details of his complaints and the investigation to press. 

The report was published just as Nicola Sturgeon launched her latest push for independence. The First Minister said she expected the "highest standards" from her MPs.

Opposition parties have called for the SNP to expel the MP. 

Labour said Mr Grady's constituents in Glasgow North will "now think twice about contacting an MP who has found to have committed sexual misconduct in the workplace."

In a personal statement to the Commons, Mr Grady said he had "learned significant lessons through this process" and insisted that "such behaviour on my part will never happen again."

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."

It continued: "The advance included the touching and stroking of the complainant's neck, hair, and back. The respondent states that when it became apparent that his conduct was not welcome, he desisted."

While this was not "intimate touching" this was "nevertheless clearly sexual in intent and manner, and clearly inappropriate."

"This factor was exacerbated by the fact that the context was public, and drink had been taken. The respondent accepts these points," the report adds.

However, the panel said Mr Grady had shown "genuine remorse for his actions, that they were not repeated once rebuffed, and his efforts to address his behaviour since the incident."

Mr Grady apologised to the panel, saying he accepts their findings "in full and without reservation."

He said: "I deeply regret my behaviour, and am very sorry for the distress and upset it has caused the complainant."

According to the panel's report, the complainant made eight allegations against Mr Grady, three under the Sexual Misconduct Policy, and a further five under the Bullying and Harassment Policy, covering the period 2016 to 2020.

A further, ninth, allegation of bullying and harassment was added during the investigation.

However, only the allegation relating to the Christmas party was upheld.

Despite the party being aware of the complaint, Mr Grady was allowed to remain in post as the SNP's Chief Whip until March 2021 - when The Herald first revealed the accusations against him.

He was even allowed to speak in a 2019 Commons debate about the harassment of staff.

Complaints had been sent to the office of then Commons speaker John Bercow in 2017 and 2018, which passed them to the SNP’s compliance unit.

One letter, signed by "concerned staff members", stated: "This matter in relation to repeated sexual misconduct is widely known about within Westminster and the SNP group, however, given his position and despite a supposed tough stance against harassment, Patrick Grady is being protected and his behaviour is supported."

He and Patricia Gibson, the SNP MP for North Ayrshire and Arran, were subsequently reported under the new Commons grievance procedure for alleged sexual harassment.

It had previously been reported that a tearful Mr Grady apologised to the complainer at a meeting with SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford in 2018.

The Daily Record reported that Mr Grady subsequently took part in a behaviour-related training course. 

The Herald understands the course was undertaken after an in-house SNP investigation.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards was critical of the leaks to press and accused the complainant of a “deliberate attempt to publicly discredit Mr Grady” and “a breach of Parliament’s Behaviour Code and a breach of the rules that are intended to underpin the fairness, confidentiality, and integrity of Parliament's ICGS processes.”

They said that the sanction against Mr Grady had been reduced because of those breaches of confidentiality.

"Reputation is vital to any MP and a loss of reputation derived from a breach of confidentiality can be serious and permanent in its effects," the panel said. 

The report also raised questions about how the SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford dealt with the complaint.

It said he had facilitated an “impromptu informal resolution” meeting where Mr Grady made an informal apology without the prior consultation of the complainant.

“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.

“The complainant said he felt intimidated into accepting the apology when put in such a situation with two people who had so much influence over his career.”

It is understood Mr Grady has been placed on administrative suspension before the parliamentary group considers the report on Tuesday night.

The Scottish Conservatives have called on Nicola Sturgeon to suspend Mr Grady. 

Annie Wells said: “The SNP have serious questions to answer over how they handled this increasingly murky situation.

“They shamefully tried to sweep these serious complaints - which have now been upheld - under the carpet. At every single turn, there was a lack of transparency from them over how the investigation was proceeding.

“This verdict will be a small source of comfort to the brave complainer who has been let down by the SNP from the outset.

“The party’s attempts to cover up the behaviour of their then Chief Whip will not fill any potential future complainers with confidence that they will be treated appropriately.

“Nicola Sturgeon must address this verdict as a matter of urgency and explain why crucial details of the case were kept hidden from the public and what action will now be taken by the SNP against Patrick Grady.

“He should be suspended immediately.”

Labour Business Manager Neil Bibby said:“Patrick Grady’s behaviour has been nothing short of utterly disgraceful.

“He should do the only honourable thing and resign his seat immediately.

“The people of Glasgow North deserve an MP they can approach with any and all of their issues.

"Thousands of constituents will now think twice about contacting an MP who has found to have committed sexual misconduct in the workplace.

“The SNP have for years acted as if Mr Grady had nothing wrong - Ian Blackford must now explain why he sided with defending his party over standing up for Mr Grady's victims.

“The SNP must also expel him from their whip and make clear that he has no place in the House of Commons.”