A Labour MP has resigned after the sleaze watchdog found him guilty of “serious sexual misconduct”.
The independent panel on MPs’ conduct recommended Christian Matheson was suspended or four weeks following a report into his behaviour.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards upheld two allegations of sexual misconduct against Matheson by a former member of his staff.
He allegedly invited her 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.
During a work event outside parliament, he also “linked arms with her; 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; and once there invited her back to his flat, kissed her twice on the forehead and attempted to kiss her on the mouth. The commissioner concluded that these were all unwanted and unwelcome sexual advances”.
However, the MP issued a statement just minutes after the report was released announcing that he was standing down as the MP for the City of Chester.
The Labour Party launched an investigation and immediately suspended Matheson from the party in light of the report.
The Chief Whip told him he had lost the whip and urged him to stand down as an MP.
Matheson 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.
“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. Indeed my insistence on what I know to be true – that I had no sexual motivation in this matter - was held against me as a refusal to accept my guilt, and caused an increased sanction which I felt was disproportionate.
“Despite provable factual inaccuracies in the sanctions report, my appeal against sanction was not even considered, for the same reason.
“Therefore, I faced a suspension from the House of four weeks. Whilst I believe that this is an excessive and unfair penalty, I cannot challenge the process further.
“I believe that the honourable and right thing to do now is to resign my seat and seek to rebuild my life elsewhere.”
Matheson asked for privacy for his family, adding: “This matter has also caused a great toll on my health, requiring my hospitalisation, and I ask that my privacy is respected while I recover.”
He also apologised to the complainant in the case for the “hurt” he caused.