An SNP MP has been cleared of bullying Boris Johnson ally Nadine Dorries.
Ochil and South Perthshire MP John Nicolson was cleared after an investigation by the Independent Complaints and Grievances Scheme (ICGS).
Nicholson was being investigated for a series of tweets which he made and liked about Dorries when she was in Johnson's cabinet.
The SNP’s culture spokesman had liked tweets describing Dorries as a “horrible disgusting woman,” a “mendacious, vacuous Tory goon,” and “thick as two short planks”.
But Nicolson has been cleared of any misconduct in what is the first known case of an MP making a formal cyberbullying complaint about a parliamentary colleague.
Nicolson and Dorries clashed in a bitter exchange in a select committee hearing in November 2021 when Dorries was asked about calling LBC Radio presenter James O’Brien a “public school posh boy f***wit”.
Nicolson questioned her about calling the BBC "left-wing" and saying its funding model was "Soviet-style".
Dorries complained at the hearing that the SNP MP's questions were “personal attacks” and said his tweets weren't "something to be particularly proud of".
Nicolson is said to have criticised the then-culture secretary and liked a series of tweets by others attacking her after the session.
A House of Commons spokesperson said: “Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) operates on the basis of confidentiality for the benefit of all parties.
"Therefore, we cannot provide any information on any complaint, including whether or not a complaint has been received.”
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