Labour MP apologises for breaching harassment policy after ‘unwelcome’ hug
Tony Vaughan's said he's 'truly sorry' for the impact of his actions
Last updated 14 hours ago
The Labour MP for Folkestone and Hythe has apologised in the House of Commons - after he gave a member of staff an "unwelcome" hug.
Tony Vaughan also took a former employee's phone without asking and ended calls abruptly.
The politician was found to have breached Parliament's bullying and harassment policy.
He's said he's 'truly sorry' to the woman involved and her family - and has since undertaken extra training.
The three incidents took place in February last year, and were reported to Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme by a member of his constituency staff.
In a personal statement, Mr Vaughan said he accepted the IEP’s findings in full and was “more alert to the need for sensitivity to those I work with”.
Tony Vaughan's full statement
“At a small gathering to thank my former colleague for her work establishing the constituency office, I initiated a hug. I assumed that she was content to be hugged, but I did not ask, and the hug was unwelcome to her.
“Later that month, while out of the office intending to join an online meeting that was not in my diary, I took my former colleague’s phone from her hand without her consent to join that meeting.
“She immediately challenged me and took the phone back. It was not mine to take.
“The next day, two calls with my former colleague and me were ended abruptly while I was trying to find the venue for a constituency appointment. One of them deliberately by me after entering a live church service.
“Regrettably, I never explained why these calls had ended as I ought to have done.
“As a result of these behaviours, my former colleague was upset and humiliated. My behaviour had a real and continuing impact on her and her family, and I am truly sorry for this.
“I was the employer of my former colleague. There was an imbalance of power between us, and I was not sufficiently alert to it as the behaviour code requires.
“The responsibility for behaving in a way that was mindful of that imbalance was mine and not hers. I also recognise that behaviour like this could well impact on somebody who is vulnerable, whether or not that is known.
“That is why respect and courtesy must come first in every interaction I have with others.
“Since these events, my approach has changed. I am more alert to the need for sensitivity to those I work with. I have undertaken further training, including one-to-one training.
“Going forwards, I will be mindful of the need for both courtesy in my dealings with staff, including in times of stress, and for my personal attention when staffing problems arise.
“I made mistakes and I breached the policy. I apologise unreservedly to my former colleague and to this House.”