Tory MP Ross Thomson to stand down after Labour MP makes 'grope' claims

3 November 2019, 16:35

Ross Thomson has announced he will not be the Tory candidate for Aberdeen South after a Labour MP claimed he had "groped" him in a Westminster bar.

Conservative MP Ross Thomson has stepped down as the party's candidate in next month's General Election, as he claimed "malicious" allegations against him had made his life a "living hell".

Paul Sweeney, Labour MP for Glasgow North East who made the claims, said he was speaking out about the alleged incident, which he referred to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, because he feared no action will be taken before next month's General Election.

The Scottish Mail On Sunday reported that Mr Sweeney said he had "felt paralysed" during an alleged incident in the Strangers' Bar in Westminster in October last year.

He claims the Aberdeen South MP tried to put his hands down his trousers.

The Glasgow North East MP told the paper: "It was just such a shocking thing. I was in a cold sweat, it was mortifying."

Ross Thomson has denied the allegations, saying he is the victim of a "political smear" and that he would fight to clear his name.

He said he had made "the most difficult decision that I could ever make" by standing down as candidate for the Scottish seat.

"Anonymous and malicious allegations this year have made my life a living hell. It has been nothing short of traumatic," he said.

The Conservative MP added: "I have suffered a level of personal abuse that has affected my health, my mental wellbeing and my staff."

A spokesman for Mr Sweeney said: "This assault, which took place last October, was reported to the appropriate authorities after similar but entirely separate allegations were made by other men against Ross Thomson in February.

"In light of the failure of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to resolve this matter before the General Election Mr Sweeney feels it is important that voters in Thomson's constituency should be aware of his behaviour as their representative at Westminster."