THE former partner of Tory ‘grope’ MP Ross Thomson has backed Labour’s Paul Sweeney after he claimed he was sexually assaulted by his political rival in a Commons bar.
Thomson, 32, was accused of trying to put his hands down Sweeney’s trousers while “drunk” in Strangers Bar last October.
And now Douglas Mathewson, who was in a civil partnership with the Scottish Conservative politician, has spoken out in support of his accuser.
Sweeney, 30, MP for Glasgow North East admitted the alleged assault left him “paralysed” with shock.
Thomson blasted the claim, calling it a “malicious allegation” – and “categorically denied” the allegations.
But, in a now deleted tweet, Mathewson praised the Labour politician for his courage in coming forward.
He wrote: “A really brave action by Paul Sweeney and one that must have been difficult.
“As expected, the accused is taking him down but this has to be expected as his default position.
Ross Thomson quits as Tory MP amid claims he grouped Labour rival in Commons bar
“To date, I have never seen an apology for the number of incidents linked to or caused by this individual.”
Amid the revelations yesterday, Thomson quit in a statement posted on social media.
He declared he won’t stand again for Aberdeen South in the upcoming general election – but vowed to fight the “political smear”.
And the Tory — elected in 2017 — added: “I have suffered a level of personal abuse that has affected my health, mental well-being and staff.”
A spokesperson for Sweeney revealed the MP made public his allegations after frustration over his complaint not being resolved.
They said: “This assault, which took place last October, was reported to the appropriate authorities after similar but entirely separate allegations were made by other men against Ross Thomson in February.
“In light of the failure of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to resolve this matter before the General Election Mr Sweeney feels it is important that voters in Thomson’s constituency should be aware of his behaviour as their representative at Westminster.”
Most read in Politics
Thomson referred himself to a Conservative disciplinary panel over a separate incident in Strangers Bar in February.
A Tory party spokesperson said yesterday its internal proceedings were “ongoing”.
We pay for your stories and videos! Do you have a story or video for The Scottish Sun? Email us at scoop@thesun.co.uk or call 0141 420 5200