NADINE Dorries has claimed a “shadow of doubt” hangs over a report which cleared an MP of allegations he bullied her.
The former culture secretary, who served under Boris Johnson, had accused the SNP’s John Nicolson of bullying her because of offensive tweets about her he had liked and retweeted – but the findings of an earlier investigation were overturned by a new report published on Tuesday.
Nicolson was cleared of bullying the former minister, in a decision Dorries branded disappointing.
She responded to the report’s findings in a Twitter thread and claimed that “in any workplace other than Parliament”, Nicolson would have been “dismissed” for his actions.
She tweeted: “A report into the conduct of John Nicholson towards myself has been published today.
“My complaint was upheld by the Standards Commissioner.”
Quoting from the report, she continued: “Over a 24-hour period John Nicolson MP tweeted, ‘liked’ or retweeted disparaging material about Nadine Dorries 168 times, and in particular b. ‘liked’ tweets which described Nadine Dorries as ‘grotesque’, a ‘vacuous goon’, and as having been ‘rag-dolled’ by him.”
Dorries added: “The Standards Commissioner could not consider complaints regarding other forms of intimidation as Nicholson was covered by Parliamentary Privilege and could only consider external 168 tweets in 24 [hours].
“Nicholson appealed and the Standards Commissioners decision was overturned by a sub panel.
“In any workplace other than Parliament where the rule of law, not privilege applies, Nicholson would have been instantly dismissed.
“I’m disappointed that the Standards Commissioner’s verdict has been overturned in this way. It seems strange to me that it can be done on the basis of 'new evidence' which I have not seen or been given the opportunity to respond to.
“Once again, a shadow of doubt cast over parliamentary process and the conduct of individual MPs.”
It comes after a Parliament’s Independent Expert Panel overturned a judgment of the standards commissioner after Dorries complained about Nicolson’s Twitter activity.
The panel found the standards commissioner had not interpreted Parliament’s bullying rules in such a way which gave due weight to the right of MPs to strongly criticise the Government.
