Following an investigation into allegations of sexual misbehavior against him, Christian Matheson resigned as Chester’s representative today.
Following an investigation into charges made by a former employee, it was determined that the 54-year-old married man committed a “severe” rule violation.
It was suggested that he face a four-week suspension from the House of Commons, and upon the publication of the results, he lost the Labour whip immediately.
Mr. Matheson disclosed in a statement that he will now resign from the House of Commons because it was “the correct and honorable thing to do” and that he had “done a small infraction.”
However, he said that he was “disappointed that I was found guilty of multiple baseless claims.”
An investigation conducted under Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme revealed that the MP extended a “unwanted” and “sexually driven” invitation for a private trip overseas to a staff member.
Mr. Matheson was also determined to have made “unwanted and unwelcome sexual approaches” towards the employee during a work-related event.
He was alleged to have asked her back to his apartment, twice kissed her on the forehead, and attempted to kiss her on the lips.
A panel of independent experts concluded: “In our opinion, this constitutes grave sexual misconduct.”
“There is no doubt that [Mr. Matheson] sought to develop a sexual connection with the complainant, his subordinate employee.”
This desired relationship was throughout undesirable and unpleasant.
“The evidence demonstrates that his acts were completely nonconsensual, as well as frightening, intimidating, demeaning, and humiliating to the complainant.”
The committee suggested that Mr. Matheson be suspended from the House of Commons for four weeks.
This was lengthy enough to warrant a recall petition, which may have resulted in a by-election in his City of Chester constituency.
Mr. Matheson did not appeal the decision of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to sustain two sexual misconduct charges against him.
But he did question some of Kathryn Stone’s findings during the process to determine his sentence.
The panel determined that his “continued refusal to admit the full scope of his misbehavior” was “an aggravating element” and “insulting to the complainant.”
A ‘obvious imbalance of power’ between the MP and the complainant, her frailty, and her dependency on him for employment were also determined to be severe aggravating circumstances.
Mr. Matheson stated in a statement, “I have submitted my resignation as the City of Chester’s Member of Parliament with profound sadness today.”
“This letter is in response to the disclosure of a report that found me guilty of sexual misconduct.
“From the outset, I acknowledged that I had committed a minor violation of the code and hoped that an honest and forthright attitude would present me in a favorable light.”
“This was not the case, and I am disappointed that I have been found guilty of multiple false accusations.”
“In fact, my insistence on what I know to be true – that I had no sexual motivation in this situation – was interpreted as a refusal to accept my guilt and resulted in a harsher sentence that I believed was unfair.
“Despite demonstrable factual flaws in the penalties report, my appeal against sanction was disregarded for the same reason,”
Sir Alan Campbell, the chief whip of the Labour Party, instructed Mr. Matheson to resign as an MP and warned him that the party would choose a new candidate in his place for the upcoming election.
In accordance with the party’s own disciplinary process, which can commence now that it has received the ICGS report, he might be expelled from Labour.
A spokeswoman for the Labour Party stated, “This is an extremely grave matter.” The Labour Party has taken urgent action in response to the ICGS’s recommendations that sexual harassment must not be tolerated.
“We will now choose a candidate the citizens of Chester can be proud to vote for.”