The Scottish Parliament is under scrutiny following allegations that a complaint regarding a senior MSP’s alleged inappropriate messages to a young assistant was disregarded. The married politician purportedly utilized the Grindr dating app to communicate with parliamentary staff at the Holyrood building. A former assistant claimed to have received explicit photos, including identifiable naked images of the MSP.
Despite reporting the incident to the HR department in 2018, the former assistant stated that no visible actions were taken. Describing the images as not only disturbing but obscene, the individual highlighted that the MSP targeted individuals within the building through anonymous profiles on Grindr, which later revealed his identity.
Expressing astonishment at the lack of response from authorities, the complainant revealed that the MSP’s inappropriate behavior extended to approaching other gay parliamentary assistants through the same platform. The victim hesitated to file a formal complaint due to the MSP’s familial situation, opting instead to inform the MSP and seek advice from HR.
The victim’s account suggested that the MSP’s conduct was known to others within the parliament, with claims that party leaders would have been aware of the situation. The victim’s friend corroborated the discomfort caused by the MSP’s actions, emphasizing the audacity and offensiveness of the explicit content sent.
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for the Scottish Parliament emphasized a zero-tolerance approach to workplace harassment and assured that all complaints are taken seriously and investigated independently. The Parliament encourages individuals to report any harassment and provides support services for those affected.
The Parliament assures confidentiality for individuals reporting incidents of harassment and advises them to involve their employer if comfortable. Additionally, any complaints of a criminal nature are advised to be reported to the appropriate authorities for further action.