Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski suspended for one day over bullying

Conservative MP Daniel Kawczynski has been given a one-day suspension from sitting in Parliament.

It follows an apology to the House of Commons from the member for Shrewsbury and Atcham earlier for undermining an initial apology for bullying staff.

He had been investigated over claims he had bullied parliamentary committee staff as he struggled with IT issues during the first lockdown.

Mr Kawczynski will not be allowed to sit in Parliament on Thursday.

Sir Bernard Jenkin, chair of the Liaison Committee and member of the Standards Committee, told the House that the suspension would have been for a "significant period but there were significant mitigating circumstances".

Mr Kawczynski has been "candid in discussing his mental health issues", Sir Bernard said.

The MP first apologised to the Commons in June but faced a fresh investigation over comments given to the media.

Parliament's standards commissioner found comments made to BBC Radio Shropshire had failed to protect complainants' anonymity and had caused "significant damage" to the Commons' "reputation and integrity".

'Grossly unprofessional'

Last year, Parliament's Independent Expert Panel (IEP) had concluded he should make an unreserved apology in the House of Commons after ruling his behaviour in April 2020 was "grossly unprofessional" and a significant breach of Parliament's Behaviour Code.

But speaking to a BBC reporter on the 14 June 2021, he said: "I have no alternative but to apologise, because if I don't apologise then I risk the option of being sanctioned further."

He was referred to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, which noted: "This is the first occasion on which an allegation of non-compliance with an Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) sanction has been referred to the Committee."

In concluding Mr Kawczynski had failed to comply with the findings of the IEP it called for him to make an apology to the House and recommended a one-day suspension.

Speaking after Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday, Mr Kawczynski said: "I acknowledge that in speaking to journalists and the radio I undermined the sincerity of the apology I gave to the House on the 14 June 2021.

"I am sorry that my conduct will have had a further harmful effect on the complainants and that it may have diminished public confidence in the process."

He promised a written apology to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, the chairman of the Independent Expert Panel and the original complainants.

The Commissioner for Standards had said a longer suspension could have been expected, but it took in to account mitigating evidence from Mr Kawczynski, who said he had been suffering mental health problems at the time.

In his statement to the Commons, Mr Kawczynski added: "I am conscious that my conduct may have merited suspension from the service of the House for a longer period and appreciate the committee's consideration of the difficulties that I was experiencing in my personal life at the time and the mental health issues I explained to them.

"I deeply regret my actions. I am committed to learn from the mistakes I have made and to work on my personal development, especially in my communication with others in every interaction that I have."