Mr Byrne said he had apologised to the complainant in his case and the situation had been a "valuable lesson for me and one I am determined to learn". READ MORE: Your chance to quiz the city's next leader candidates The report added: "He should, as he now accepts, have tackled any misconduct through a proper disciplinary process, not by ostracizing the complainant." The panel recommended Mr Byrne be suspended for two sitting days on condition he also made a written apology to the complainant and undertook training and took action to address the causes of his behaviour and weaknesses in the management of his office. It was bullying."ĭavid Barker on the campaign trail with Labour colleagues, posted on his Twitter account The panel said Mr Byrne "sought to present his actions as a reasonable HR strategy" but added: "We disagree. The Panel which considered the punishment for Mr Byrne said he abused his position of power and ostracized the staff member by ending personal contact with him for several months and denying him access to his Parliamentary IT account. READ MORE: Fury as hundreds of Birmingham Covid patients unlawfully sent into care homesįollowing an investigation by an independent investigator, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone upheld an allegation of bullying against Mr Byrne by a former member of his constituency staff made under Parliament's Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS).
He has taken legal advice about that breach.
The finding by the House's Independent Expert Panel was leaked, according to Mr Byrne, ahead of agreed publication.
It has been recommended he be suspended for two days from the House of Commons for the breach of Parliament's bullying and harassment policy.
The Hodge Hill MP, who did not appeal the decision, said he was “profoundly sorry” about the incident and he had “apologised in full to the individual concerned”. This saw Mr Barker, who had 'undergone a period of ill health', be 'physically separated from work colleagues' and 'uncertain of his future work status'.īirmingham Hodge Hill MP Liam Byrne (Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live) It was said that the impact of Byrne's behaviour was 'compounded by the fact' it occurred between March 2020 and the end of July that year, during the first national lockdown. He had a workplace dispute with Mr Barker and in the aftermath the MP 'ceased personal contact with him for several months and denied him access to his Parliamentary IT account', such as disabling his work emails. Mr Byrne’s behaviour in 2020 was found to be “malicious" and "involved a significant misuse of power”. I'm going to spend the day with them now." He wrote on Twitter this afternoon that he did not understand why the news had leaked a week before the local election, which he said "is my main focus at the moment." He added: "Sadly, for most of my friends and family, they are now learning about what happened to me for the first time today. Read more: 'Heartbreaking poverty'- 60 Birmingham kids a week helped by new baby charity A proud gay man, he has stood up against bullying and harassment facing other colleagues in the public eye and championed LGBT rights. Mr Barker, who co-founded Baby Aid Birmingham, is currently standing for election as a Labour candidate in Brandwood and Kings Heath in next week's council elections. Parliament deserves better, and so does Hodge Hill." I hope to see UK Labour suspend him from the Labour Party and Keir Starmer withdraw the whip, calling for a by-election so we can all finally move on. Speaking on Twitter today, Mr Barker said: "I'm glad this process is over after two very difficult years. Byrne was found by an independent Commons standards panel to have engaged in bullying by ostracising Mr Barker for months. Mr Barker was working in the MP's local constituency office when the pandemic broke. "Parliament deserves better, and so does Hodge Hill." He has called for swift action by the Labour Party, saying he should stand down. David Barker, 32, spoke out after news leaked that the MP had bullied him for months by ostracising him at work. The Birmingham victim of bullying by Labour's Liam Byrne has today called for him to be ousted as an MP.