SCOTTISH Labour MSP Monica Lennon has said anonymous reports of bullying against her are a “work of fiction”.
Reports in The Scotsman newspaper on Thursday alleged that four former staff members who worked for Lennon have accused her of bullying.
Speaking to journalists in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, Lennon said the statements were “untrue” and “vexatious”.
Her comments come after Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra said no complaints had been made to the Labour Party about the MSP.
He said: “I can confirm that neither the Labour group or the party have complaints at the moment, and my process on this is to follow due process as we go forward.”
Marra clarified that following due process would mean: “If there are complaints, they will be treated with respect and looked up.
“But we don’t have complaints at the moment.”
Flanked by deputy Scottish Labour leader, Jackie Baillie, Lennon said: “They’re completely untrue. I’ve been clear in my statement to The Scotsman. I spoke to a number of journalists today.
“The most important thing to say at the outset is I’ve been an MSP for 10 years, and I’ve never discussed staff in the past. I’m not going to start to do that now.
“Clearly, these are distressing allegations. They are serious and I think it’s well known that there are clear policies and procedures for anyone who has legitimate concerns to raise and I think when people make vexatious complaints or do hit jobs in the media then that undermines genuine concerns and cases.
“It’s reassuring again to hear today from both Scottish Labour and Parliament that there have been no complaints or formal allegations.”
Lennon has been an MSP since 2016; however, she failed to hold on to her seat at May’s election but was returned on the list when Anas Sarwar was elevated to the Lords over the summer.
In the summer, Lennon hoped to stand against Marra to replace party leader Anas Sarwar, but did not obtain the backing of her parliamentary colleagues.
Lennon said she had been approached by a journalist about the allegations while running to be Scottish Labour leader in 2021 and again in the summer leadership race.
She said the anonymous quotes reported in The Scotsman are a “work of fiction”.
She continued: “I’ve been really clear with The Scotsman that what they put to me is untrue. Nothing that’s been reported today in the BBC and elsewhere, I’ve read the comments by the individual.
“I don’t know why they’re saying these things. The Parliament have been very clear to me, as has the Labour Party, that there have never been any allegations or complaints.
“There’s a number of anonymous quotes in the story in The Scotsman, and when you read it, it’s like a work of fiction. I can’t get the mind of the people behind that.”
