A senior SNP politician should be suspended from the House of Commons for sexual misconduct against a member of staff while drunk, a parliamentary report has said.

       Patrick Grady, the party’s chief whip in Westminster, was ordered to make a public apology in the chamber and say sorry to the complainant over the incident in 2016 at a work social event in a pub.

       A report by the Independent Expert Panel recommended that he was suspended from the Commons for two days.

       The complainant was a junior member of staff at the time.

       The panel also said that that the case showed that sexual relationships between MPs and younger staff members were “highly problematic”.

       It is understood that the SNP will consider the report at a meeting this evening, and has been given an administrative suspension in the meantime.

       The complainant told the panel that he felt “ambushed” at a meeting facilitated by Ian Blackford, the SNP’s Westminster leader, in February 2018 when Mr Grady apologised. He said he felt “intimidated” into accepting the apology.

       The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards upheld the allegation of sexual misconduct against Mr Grady by a member of SNP staff, with the MP deciding not to appeal the decision.

       The investigation concluded that Mr Grady made an “unwanted sexual advance” towards the staff member “under the influence of alcohol” which included touching and stroking their neck, hair and back.

       It was found that while the touching was not “intimate”, it was “nevertheless clearly sexual in intent and manner, and clearly inappropriate.”

       One allegation was upheld by the Commissioner after the complainant made nine allegations including bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct.

       The independent panel found that although MPs and staff members are not banned from having sexual relationships with each other.

       “It is obvious that enormous care must be taken if such relationships are to be entered into,” it said.

       “Great disparities of status and power exist. Where a considerable disparity of age and experience is added into the mix, it will be highly problematic to initiate a sexual relationship without the risk that there is no true mutuality.”

       It concluded that: “an unwanted physical touching, with sexual intent, from a senior MP to a junior member of staff, even on a single occasion, is a significant breach of the policy.

       “It must be marked by some period of suspension from the House [of Commons]”.

       Mr Grady showed 'genuine remorse'

       The panel said it took into account the MP’s “genuine remorse” for his actions and that he didn’t try again once his advances were rebuffed.

       The panel also reduced their length of the suspension because the complainant did not keep their accusations private until the publication of the report.

       Anyone who submits a complaint to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) has to keep all details confidential.

       The investigation claimed that the complainant “breached confidentiality repeatedly” and this was “a deliberate attempt to publicly discredit Mr Grady”, leading to him suffering “intrusive press activities and abuse on social media.”

       “If confidentiality is not maintained, there is a real concern that valid complaints will not be laid, and that witnesses will not be prepared to give their evidence,” the panel said.

       Confidentiality is also vital to protect MPs from spurious or exaggerated reporting of unproven allegations, which can permanently damage reputations.

       The SNP was contacted for comment.

       At her press conference to launch her latest independence drive, Nicola Sturgeon said she had not yet read the report into Mr Grady’s conduct and would issue a response once she had done so.

       She added: “We expect the highest standards from others, we have a duty to ensure the highest standards are abided by within our own ranks as well.”