Liam Byrne, Birmingham Hodge Hill MP, was found to have “expelled” a former aide after an argument in the office. He cut off personal contact with him for five months in 2020 and denied him access to his parliamentary IT account. Following an independent inquiry, Kathryn Stone, Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, confirmed the allegations against Bern. The former cabinet minister said he was “deeply sorry” about the incident. The Independent Group of Experts, which decides on sanctions when complaints against MPs are made, said it should be temporarily suspended by Parliament for two days for violating its policy of intimidation and harassment. “It was intimidation,” the commission said.
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“As he now admits, he should have dealt with any offense through a proper disciplinary procedure and not through the expulsion of the complainant.” Politics Hub: Tories MP allegedly watched porn in Commons “should be expelled from party” Mr Byrne, 51, was also asked to write an apology to the complainant and receive training “to address the causes of his behavior”. The MP said that “he apologized completely to the person concerned”. “Two years ago at the beginning of the lockdown, after a dispute at work which led me to send the complainant home … I did not resolve the dispute properly with the appropriate disciplinary procedure and, nevertheless, having extended the complainant’s contract “, I did not fulfill my obligations as an employer and the Code of Conduct of the Parliament”, he said. “This was an expulsion which was a violation of Parliament’s Code of Conduct, which I strongly support and which caused deep sorrow, of which I am deeply sorry. I apologized in full to the person concerned. “I am incredibly grateful to the panel for acknowledging the genuine remorse I felt for the impact on the person concerned, the steps I have already taken to ensure that this never happens again with the work I have to do and for concluding that I did it. . do not act deliberately to delay the investigation. “This was a valuable lesson for me and a lesson I am determined to learn as my team and I strive to provide the best possible service and voice to the people of Hodge Hill.” The Labor Party said it supported his proposed two-day suspension. A spokesman said: “The Labor Party fully supports the recommendations of this independent report, including the proposed ratification.” The GMB, which represents the former official, has called for a general overhaul of the way MPs are employed. Jenny Symmons, President of the GMB Branch for Member Staff, said: “GMB welcomes the decision to accept our member’s complaint of serious intimidation and harassment. “However, the ratification of an apology, a training recommendation and a two-day suspension is far below what is required to address this type of abuse.”
