A Labour MP is set to be suspended from the Commons for two days after an inquiry found he bullied a staff member.
Parliament's Independent Expert Panel found Liam Byrne "abused his position of power" by "ostracising" a more junior colleague between March and July 2020.
The panel today recommended that Mr Byrne be suspended from the Commons for two days, apologise, and carry out training to address "the causes of his behaviour".
It came after a "dispute" between Mr Byrne and David Barker, a staff member in his constituency office, that led the MP to send Mr Barker home.
The MP then ceased contact with Mr Barker for several months and denied him access to his Parliamentary IT account.
A commissioner investigating the case concluded the MP showed "malicious behaviour that involved a significant misuse of power".
A sub-panel concluded: "This case involves a serious breach of the Bullying and Harassment Policy which arose from the respondent abusing his position of power and ostracising the complainant, who was his employee, by ceasing personal contact with him for several months and denying him access to his Parliamentary IT account.
"The impact of this behaviour was compounded by the fact that it occurred during the first period of lockdown when the complainant was physically separated from work colleagues, uncertain of his future work status and had undergone a period of ill health."
The sub-panel said Mr Byrne "sought to present his actions as a reasonable HR strategy in response to this incident.
"We disagree. It was bullying.
"He should, as he now accepts, have tackled any misconduct through a proper disciplinary process not by ostracising the complainant."
In a statement released today, Mr Byrne said: “I am extremely grateful to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and to the Independent Expert Panel for their thorough investigation and careful judgement.
"I am very lucky to work with an amazing, happy team of people, who together have almost 40 years of combined service to my constituents in our Westminster and Hodge Hill offices where we're determined to provide the best possible service and voice to what is the most income deprived constituency in England.
"However, two years ago at the beginning of lockdown, following a workplace dispute that led me to send the complainant home, as the Panel notes in para 3.24, I did not resolve the dispute correctly with a proper disciplinary process, and having nevertheless extended the Complainant’s contract, thereby failed to fulfil my obligations as an employer and Parliament's Behaviour Code.
"This constituted an ostracism which was a breach of Parliament’s Behaviour Code which I strongly support, and caused distress for which I am profoundly sorry. I have apologised in full to the individual concerned."
"I'm incredibly grateful to the Panel for recognising the genuine remorse I felt about the impact on the individual concerned, the steps I have already taken to ensure this never happens again along with the work still to do, and for concluding that I did not deliberately act to delay the investigation. This has been a valuable lesson for me and one I am determined to learn as me and my team seek to offer the best possible service and voice for the residents of Hodge Hill."
The complaint about Mr Byrne was made under Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme.
The MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill since July 2004 has not appealed the decision, which will have to be agreed by the House of Commons before the suspension is put into action.
Mr Byrne has accepted the sub-panel’s decision.
The report suggests that the MP had not fully understood the impact of what he had done.
"The sub-panel accepted that Mr Byrne had demonstrated genuine remorse," it continues.
"However, they were not convinced that he fully understood the extent of his wrong doing as he implied that his lack of understanding of the term 'ostracisation' within the Bullying and Harassment Policy, and the complainant’s behaviour, somehow excused his actions."
In total, three of the seven incidents alleged by Mr Barker were upheld by the commissioner.
The first relates to the employee being given the silent treatment by Mr Byrne and being locked out of his work email, meaning he was unable to view his final payslip.
The complainant was told he was no longer employed not by the MP, who was his line manager, but by another member of staff.
Mr Barker later found out that an attempt had been made to remotely wipe the mobile phone he had.
The second upheld allegation was that Mr Byrne did not speak to his employee between March 20 and the beginning of June, except twice via text.
Mr Barker continued to work for the MP but had to rely on messages from other staff members to find out what was going on.
"This upset the complainant and he felt ostracised by Mr Byrne," the report states.
"Due to the platform being used (WhatsApp) the complainant could see he was further being ignored and ostracised, being in essence isolated from the team."
The third upheld allegation was that Mr Byrne did not check up on his employee when he developed Covid symptoms.
"During this period the complainant’s contract was still only being extended on a bi-monthly basis by Mr Byrne and the lack of communication meant he was fearful for his future employment constantly," the report continues.
"It is alleged that during this period that the complainant was only being paid half his salary, the reason for this is unclear and he alleges that this greatly added to his stress and anxiety."
