More than 80 unreported cases of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct at Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament has found 84 unreported cases of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment at Holyrood.

The findings come from a Dignity at Work survey of all staff working for MSPs or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.

It was carried out in January and covers the whole five years of this parliamentary term.

It finds that staff reported 84 incidents where they experienced or witnessed bullying, harassment or sexual harassment – and it includes allegations of sexual misconduct going back to 2021.

This includes 45 reports in relation to bullying, 25 in relation to harassment and 14 in relation to sexual harassment, including a small number of allegations of serious sexual misconduct.

This is the first time the incidents have been publicly reported and have been described as shocking.

The biggest problem appears to be in MSPs’ offices, where small groups of people work closely together, but where there is a distinct power dynamic, with people being unwilling to complain about their boss because that could cost them their job.

The Parliament has made nine recommendations to tackle the issues, and statements from political parties are expected at Holyrood on Friday.

The review takes account of forthcoming changes in employment law arising from the Employment Act 2025.

The Act will bring in stronger whistleblowing protections and a duty for all employers – including MSPs in that capacity – to take proactive, preventative steps to stop harassment, including third-party harassment.

The findings from the survey and its accompanying report have been communicated jointly by the Parliament’s Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone MSP, and the chief executive of the Parliament, David McGill.

Writing to all MSPs and staff, they said many staff work in positive, supportive environments, but they were both “deeply concerned” by new findings on bullying, harassment and sexual harassment.