An SNP MP gave evidence against a Westminster colleague during a sexual harassment investigation.
It is understood the unnamed parliamentarian claimed fellow MP Patricia Gibson’s behaviour towards a male staff member had been inappropriate.
The SNP employee had complained about alleged sexual harassment by Gibson, who represents North Ayrshire and Arran, in the Strangers Bar in Westminster in 2020.
In claims first published by the Daily Record, the man alleged: “She was.. clearly very, very drunk.
“She was grabbing my hand, pulling me closer and saying to me things like, ‘You should come home with me’. She was saying things that were completely inappropriate in terms of what she wanted to do when I went home with her.”
Gibson, the party’s housing spokeswoman, denied the “utterly absurd and malicious” claims, investigated by Westminster’s Independent Complaints and Grievance service.
It emerged over the weekend that the allegation of sexual harassment against Gibson had been upheld and the findings referred to an independent panel.
The Record has been told a witness was one of Gibson’s own colleagues in the Westminster group.
A separate complaint of sexual harassment by the same employee against a different SNP MP had also been upheld.
Glasgow North MP Patrick Grady was accused of touching the man in a London pub in 2016.
The findings of this probe were also referred to the panel.
Lib Dem MP Wendy Chamberlain said: “Senior SNP figures have been vocally critical of the fact that Members of Parliament under investigation for the most serious of transgressions against members of staff in this House are still able to access the parliamentary estate and go about their business as normal. They should recognise that the same standards they demand of others ought to apply to them as well.”
Scottish Conservative MSP Annie Wells said: “The SNP still have serious questions to answer over how they have handled these cases against senior representatives.
“All too often they appear to have turned a blind eye to serious allegations. If these complaints have indeed been upheld against these SNP MPs with another of their representatives involved in giving evidence, then there is an onus on the SNP to be as transparent as possible.”
An SNP spokesman said: “It would not be legally appropriate to comment while the independent parliamentary process is ongoing.”
A House of Commons spokesperson said: "We can’t confirm or deny any current investigations. Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) operates on the basis of absolute confidentiality. Therefore, we cannot provide any information on complaints or investigation, including whether or not a complaint has been received or whether an investigation is ongoing."
