SNP MP Patricia Gibson cleared of sexual misconduct after appeal

An SNP MP has been cleared of sexual misconduct after an appeal, it is understood.

Patricia Gibson had been facing claims she made inappropriate comments to an SNP staffer in a Westminster bar in January 2020.

She has always strongly denied the allegations.

SNP MP Patricia Gibson

The allegations were probed by the House of Commons and initially upheld, but it is understood they have now been thrown out on appeal.

The decision by an independent expert panel will be published on Thursday.

It comes after SNP MP Patrick Grady was found by an independent investigation to have behaved inappropriately towards a member of staff at a party function in 2016 and suspended from Parliament for two days.

The party also withdrew the whip from the MP until he had served his suspension.

However, the SNP’s handling of the complaint against Mr Grady attracted criticism, most notably from the victim himself, who said he had been made to feel as though it was his fault and his life had been made a “living hell”.

In a statement in the Commons last week, Mr Grady said: “I am profoundly sorry for my behaviour and I deeply regret my actions and the consequences.

"Any breach of the behaviour codes and associated policies risks bringing this House into disrepute and will cause the stress and upset not just for the complainant but to the wider parliamentary community."

Addressing the Speaker, he said: “I give you and this House my firm assurance that I have learned significant lessons through this process and a firm undertaking that such behaviour on my part will never happen again.”

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has been urged to explain the SNP’s handling of sexual harassment allegations involving Mr Grady as the victim at the centre of the case said he was considering legal action against the party.

Audio was leaked from a meeting of the SNP group at Westminster, in which Mr Blackford could be heard saying he was “very much looking forward to welcoming Patrick back into the group next week”, and encouraging fellow MPs to offer “as much support as possible”.

The SNP has been approached for comment in relation to Ms Gibson.