Nigel Griffiths escapes probe over Commons sex romp claims

EMBATTLED MP Nigel Griffiths has escaped a full parliamentary investigation into his alleged sex romp with a scantily clad young woman in his House of Commons study.

Westminster's sleaze watchdog has ruled there is not enough evidence to justify an inquiry into whether the Edinburgh South

Labour MP breached the Commons' code of conduct.

A Sunday newspaper published photographs at the weekend of the mystery woman stripping off in Mr Griffiths' oak-panelled office at Westminster.

It claimed Mr Griffiths had smuggled the brunette into his study on the evening of Remembrance Day last year and cavorted with her on his sofa. It said the pair had then moved on to another London location.

Mr Griffiths, a former deputy leader of the Commons, initially denied the allegations, calling the story "absolutely groundless" and "outrageous".

However, he later made a statement saying: "I am ashamed my conduct fell below acceptable standards. I have little recollection of the evening, but that doesn't make it right."

On Monday, parliamentary standards commissioner John Lyon confirmed he had received several formal complaints about Mr Griffiths' behaviour and was considering a full inquiry.

Now those who lodged complaints have been told Mr Lyon has decided not to pursue the matter any further.

Alda Barry, the registrar of members' interests, wrote: "The commissioner has concluded that there is not sufficient evidence of a breach of the Code of Conduct for Members.

"The code states that it 'does not seek to regulate what members do in their purely private and personal lives'. He does not consider that the totality of Mr Griffiths' reported conduct comes within the remit of the code, since it relates to Mr Griffiths' personal behaviour and his private life."

Accountant Joe Di Rollo, from Fairmilehead, who was one of those to complain, said he was not seeking to make any moral judgements, but felt the commissioner had missed the point.

He said: "I have no interest in Mr Griffiths' private life, but the House of Commons should be a place reserved for conducting serious business.

"With all that's going on with the banking crisis and recession, I think we want to see MPs using these facilities for what they are there for and not abusing them."

Another complainant, John Wallace, said he was "disgusted" that no action was being taken and said he would submit a further complaint, questioning whether Mr Griffiths breached security rules by inviting the woman into his office. Mr Wallace, a former soldier, said: "If a member of the British armed forces did what Mr Griffiths, as a Member of Parliament, seemed to do, they would have been sacked.

"It did bring the House into disrepute. It's not his office, it's our office. The taxpayers own the office and he was having sex with someone in our office."

Mr Griffiths, who had a majority of just 405 at the last general election, declined to comment.

One Labour insider said: "The important thing for Nigel is how it plays with the public. It doesn't take may people in Edinburgh South to be offended for him to be in deep trouble."

Local party officials refused to comment, but one source said members were anxious to discuss the matter with Mr Griffiths at their next monthly meeting.