Tory MSP 'cleared' after party sexual harassment probe

Miles Briggs faces a party disciplinary hearing over the claim

A Scottish Conservative MSP has been cleared after a party investigation into a complaint of sexual harassment.

A female worker from another party claimed Miles Briggs made persistent unwanted advances on her at a Holyrood social event in February.

However Mr Briggs said he had been cleared after a meeting of the Scottish Conservatives' disciplinary committee.

The MSP said the allegations were "completely false", and had made his life a "living hell" during the probe.

The complainer said she was "gutted" by the verdict, and Rape Crisis Scotland said they had "significant concerns" about the way the hearing was conducted.

The complaint was first raised with party leader Ruth Davidson, before entering the party's formal complaints process in July.

Ms Davidson said the disciplinary committee had agreed to a request from the complainer that Mr Briggs not be present in the room for her submission, but that she had later informed the party that she "no longer wished to attend".

'Eyewitness statements'

Ms Davidson said the hearing had "reviewed the evidence submitted from both sides" - including written statements - and concluded that "Mr Briggs is not guilty of sexual harassment".

She said this was based on "several credible eyewitness statements, including some from representatives from other political parties".

Mr Briggs said he was "especially grateful to the SNP parliamentary researchers who were among those who supported my case".

The allegations related to a social event in February

Mr Briggs said: "I would like to put it on record that I believe it is vital for women and men to bring forward complaints of harassment, and for those complaints to be considered with care and confidentiality. I believe the party has done that in this case.

"The last two months have been a living hell for me and my family as I have had to face this false allegation of sexual harassment made against me.

"Damage has clearly been done to my character, especially among those who don't know me, and I hope I have the chance to address that in the coming weeks and months."

'Significant concerns'

After the complainer described the hearing process as "terrible", Rape Crisis Scotland voiced "significant concerns" with how the probe was conducted.

The group said the process involved was "intimidating and inappropriate" for the woman making the complaint, and that they had advised her not to attend the hearing.

In a statement posted on Twitter, they said: "We made repeated attempts to ask the Scottish Conservatives to amend their procedure or provide any reassurance that might enable her to attend the hearing. They would not even tell us if the investigating committee had received training in investigating sexual harassment complaints.

"In our view the Scottish Conservatives need to urgently change their approach to investigating sexual harassment complaints.

"This is not about party politics, it's about ensuring that anyone experiencing sexual harassment feels able to come forward and expect fair treatment if they do."

Ms Davidson said in her own Twitter statement that she had "confidence in the robustness of the disciplinary process the party has put in place" and said she would "stand by the thoroughness of its impartiality".