Ian Blackford has denied claims that he was involved in bullying a member of SNP staff at Westminster as a “crude attempt at a political smear”.
The under-fire SNP Westminster leader robustly denied claims that he badly treated a SNP staffer amid alleged claims by a complainant that he was “manhandled” and bullied by the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber.
The complaint is being reportedly being probed by the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), the Westminster system which investigated the sex pest allegations against Patrick Grady.
Complaints against individual MPs are not confirmed by the scheme until the investigation is complete. However, a spokesman for Blackford robustly denied the claims.
The official said: “Mr Blackford is adamant that these outrageous claims are entirely without foundation.
"The preliminary stage of any ICGS inquiry is supposed to proceed in complete confidence and he has absolutely no knowledge of any such complaint being made."
"However, he is absolutely clear that there are no credible grounds whatsoever for such a complaint and, if an inquiry should proceed, he will engage fully to clear his name.”
The spokesman added: “If the confidentiality of the complaints process has been breached, it suggests a deliberate but crude attempt at a political smear.”
If found guilty of bullying and harassment by the ICGS, Blackford faces potential sanctions, including having to issue a public apology, undergo behaviour training and a suspension from sitting in the House of Commons.
It comes after Grady's victim told the Record that Blackford appeared hostile to him following the complaint.
The victim said: “When going to use the bathroom, I crossed Ian Blackford in the corridor, who stared me in the eyes, said nothing and walked past me letting out a big sigh, while shaking his head.
“When returning to my office to get files from my computer, he went through my office on his way to the Chamber and again stared at me while I was sitting at my desk, let out a big sigh and then walked out of my office.
“At no point did Ian ask how I was doing, at no point did he apologise for his handling of that situation, nor did he provide a welcoming atmosphere for me in my workplace.”
Over the weekend sex pest MP Patrick Grady gave up his SNP membership of the SNP while police probe claims of sexual harassment against him.
The former party whip at Westminster is reportedly stepping away from the SNP after coming under the scrutiny of a police investigation.
The Metropolitan Police is investigating the incident at a London pub where the SNP politician was said to have made “unwanted sexual advances” to a teenage party employee.
Glasgow North MP will sit as an independent at Westminster while police investigate the allegation of sexual harassment.
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