TUV MLA found to have breached MLAs’ code of conduct

TUV MLA Timothy Gaston has been found to have breached the Assembly Members Code of Conduct during stormy exchanges at a committee.

A complaint was made against the North Antrim representative following a meeting of the Executive Office committee on October 23 2024.

There were tense scenes between Mr Gaston and committee chairwoman Paula Bradshaw around an allegation Ms Bradshaw met First Minister Michelle O’Neill before she appeared at the committee to give evidence.

Ms O’Neill had been under fire following criticism of Sinn Fein over its handling of a number of controversies, including that of former press officer Michael McMonagle who was convicted of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

As exchanges at the committee became more heated Mr Gaston said to Ms Bradshaw: “Take a step back. You’re okay, you’re okay. Breathe.”

He said he apologised at the time, acknowledging his comments were “ill-judged”, and added he believed that had been the end of the matter.

Mr Gaston made a complaint against Ms Bradshaw, but the standards commissioner found it was “inadmissible”.

Meanwhile, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has confirmed that it received correspondence concerning an allegation of misconduct in public office in October 2024.

On Monday, the PSNI said inquiries remain ongoing.

Within the Assembly it has been recommended that Mr Gaston is sanctioned by being excluded for two sitting days.

Former independent Assembly Commissioner for Standards Dr Melissa McCullough, who investigated the complaint, concluded that Mr Gaston had breached Rule 15 of the code.

She found he had engaged in behaviour that constituted an “unreasonable and excessive personal attack” on Ms Bradshaw.

The Commissioner also found that Mr Gaston had breached rule 13, when his conduct at the meeting amounted to “improper interference with the performance of the Assembly’s functions”.

And that he breached rule 10, when he failed to comply with the Assembly’s “policy, guidance or instructions” by displaying unprofessional behaviour and discourtesy contrary to its behaviour code.

The Committee on Standards and Privileges upheld the complaint and is recommending that Mr Gaston be sanctioned by being excluded from Assembly proceedings for two sitting days.

Committee chairwoman Cathy Mason MLA said its members are “firmly of the view that Mr Gaston’s behaviour was inconsistent with the standards required”.

“It is vitally important that members respect the authority of committee chairpersons and uphold the rules and protocols which ensure the proper functioning of Assembly committees,” she added.

TUV leader Jim Allister claimed the Assembly has “stooped to a new low”, adding it was “absurd beyond words”.

Speaking to media at Parliament Buildings on Monday, he also indicated that potential legal action has not been ruled out.

He claimed there is a “virtual political witch hunt” against Mr Gaston.

“It frankly demeans this Assembly by arriving at the conclusion that if someone says something which might have been ill judged but certainly was not unreasonable, and certainly was not a personal attack, that that person and their constituents should be robbed of their services for two sitting days of the Assembly,” he said.

“This Assembly has always struggled with scrutiny, it has always struggled with being challenged … Timothy Gaston is here to be that voice of challenge, he has been most effective, and the more effective he has been, the greater the determination to try and silence him.”

He added: “In circumstances where there is apparently an ongoing police inquiry into these matters, it is wholly disproportionate and inappropriate for this Assembly to today to proceed to sanction anyone unless or until those proceedings are complete.”