Committee on Standards and Privileges
Minutes of proceedings 12 November 2025
Meeting Location: Room 106, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Cathy Mason MLA (Chairperson)
Stewart Dickson MLA
Jemma Dolan MLA
Brian Kingston MLA
Declan McAleer MLA
Apologies:
Connie Egan (Deputy Chairperson)
Harry Harvey MLA
In attendance by video or teleconference:
Mark Durkan MLA
Paul Frew MLA
In Attendance:
Shane McAteer, Committee Clerk
Ashleigh Mitford, Senior Assistant Clerk
Elaine Farrell, Assistant Clerk
Alison Ferguson, Clerical Supervisor
Laura Gourley, Clerical Officer
Maeve Corrigan, Legal Advisor (agenda item 5 & 7 )
Adam Leitch, Legal Advisor (agenda item 8)
Holly Groves, Legal Trainee (agenda item 8)
Rebecca Ellis, Legal Advisor (agenda item 9)
The meeting commenced at 9.59 a.m. in closed session
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Declaration of interests
The Chairperson advised Members of the ongoing requirement to declare relevant financial or other interests as and when they arise and before taking part in any Assembly proceedings, including Committee proceedings, relating to that matter.
Brian Kingston declared an interest in relation to agenda items 6 and 7, in being a member of the Assembly Committee referred to in the complaint under consideration.
Stewart Dickson declared an interest that, while he is currently a member of the Assembly Committee referred to in the complaint under consideration at agenda items 6 and 7, he was not a member at the time the complaint incident occurred.
3. Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 2025.
4. Matters Arising
Noted: The Committee noted that the new Commissioner for Standards (the Commissioner), Stephen Wright, has been appointed and that he met informally with the Chairperson on 11 November 2025, and was introduced to the Committee members today before the meeting commenced.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to reissue a letter, that had previously been issued to the former Commissioner in respect of measures to highlight the confidentiality of the complaints process, to the new Commissioner for his consideration and response.
5. Complaint handling issues – briefing by Legal Services
The Committee Clerk briefed the Committee on the background to this agenda item.
The Assembly Legal Advisor, Maeve Corrigan, joined the meeting at 10.04 a.m. and briefed the Committee on her legal advice. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider documenting its practices in relation to allowing respondents to provide written and oral responses to complaint investigation reports, and agreed its approach to respondents attending oral hearings.
The Chairperson thanked the Legal Advisor for her briefing.
The Legal Advisor left the meeting at 10.41 a.m.
Agreed: The Committee discussed and agreed areas of questioning with the respondent attending for oral hearing at agenda item 6.
6. Complaint against a Member– oral hearing with respondent
The Committee Clerk briefed the Committee on the background to this agenda item.
The Member who is the subject of the complaint (the respondent) joined the meeting at 10.44 a.m.
An oral hearing was held with the respondent, the purpose of which was to give them the opportunity to present their previously submitted written response in respect of any matters which they wished to raise regarding the (former) Commissioner’s investigation report and to answer any related questions from Committee members.
Noted: The Committee noted a further written submission tabled by the respondent, which included a transcript of their oral statement.
After making an oral statement and responding to questions from members, the respondent left the meeting at 11.04 a.m.
The meeting suspended at 11.04 a.m.
The meeting resumed at 11.11 a.m.
7. Complaint against a Member – Committee deliberation
The Legal Advisor, Maeve Corrigan, rejoined the meeting at 11.11 a.m.
The Committee Clerk briefed the Committee on the background to this agenda item.
The Committee discussed an issue raised by the respondent in the case, in relation to a separate complaint that they made against the complainant which was deemed inadmissible by the (former) Commissioner.
Agreed: The Committee, following discussion with the Legal Advisor, agreed to proceed with its deliberation on the complaint case as scheduled.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek legal advice on a general issue relating to the scope of the MLA Code of Conduct, which arose from its discussion but was separate from the case under consideration.
The Committee deliberated on the complaint case, which included allegations of breaches of Rules 15, 13 and 10 of the MLA Code of Conduct.
The Committee considered each of the allegations which had been made against the respondent together with the evidence, findings of fact and reasoned decisions of the (former) Commissioner, as set out in her investigation report, alongside the written and oral responses from the respondent and the legal advice received.
The Committee’s deliberations on each allegation also included consideration of the respondent’s right to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (‘the Convention’) and the duty of the Committee to act in a way which is compatible with the Convention.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that, in relation to allegation 1, which pertained to Rule 15 of the MLA Code of Conduct, the respondent’s conduct was in breach of Rule of Conduct 15.
Agreed: The Committee, having taken all the relevant factors into consideration, agreed that the restriction on the respondent’s freedom of expression arising from its finding that the respondent was in breach of Rule 15, was justified by reason of the requirements of Article 10(2) of the Convention.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that, in relation not allegation 2, which pertained to Rule 13 of the MLA Code of Conduct, the respondent’s conduct was in breach of Rule of Conduct 13.
Agreed: The Committee, having taken all the relevant factors into consideration, agreed that the restriction on the respondent’s freedom of expression arising from its finding that the respondent was in breach of Rule 13, was justified by reason of the requirements of Article 10(2) of the Convention.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that, in relation to allegation 3, which pertained to Rule 10 of the MLA Code of Conduct, the respondent’s conduct was in breach of Rule of Conduct 10.
Agreed: The Committee, having taken all the relevant factors into consideration, agreed that the restriction on the respondent’s freedom of expression arising from its finding that the respondent was in breach of Rule 10, was justified by reason of the requirements of Article 10(2) of the Convention.
Mr McAleer left the meeting at 12.06 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the respondent’s conduct had failed to reflect several of the principles of conduct contained in the MLA Code of Conduct, as identified in the (former) Commissioner’s investigation report, and agreed that the draft Committee report will comment on how the complaint case highlights the importance of all members observing the principles of conduct, while the Committee recognises that the principles are not themselves enforceable.
Noted: The Committee noted that the secretariat will prepare a draft Committee report on the complaint case, which will be considered at a future meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek legal advice on a proportionate and appropriate approach in relation to a sanction against the respondent, which the Committee will deliberate on further before deciding on any related recommendation to the Assembly.
8. Complaint handling issues – briefing from Legal Services
The Committee Clerk introduced the background to this agenda item.
The Assembly Legal Advisor, Adam Leitch, and Legal Trainee, Holly Groves, joined the meeting at 12.18 p.m. and briefed the Committee on the legal advice.
Declan McAleer rejoined the meeting at 12.20 p.m.
The Chairperson thanked the Legal Advisor for his briefing.
Agreed: The Committee agreed, in light of the legal advice received, to offer the former Commissioner the opportunity to respond to written submissions that two respondents had made in response to complaint investigation reports, before the Committee considers the reports further.
9. Draft Unacceptable Behaviours Policy – follow-up legal advice and next steps towards implementation
The Committee Clerk introduced this agenda item to the Committee.
The Assembly Legal Advisor, Rebecca Ellis, joined the meeting at 12.31 p.m. and briefed the Committee on the legal advice.
The Chairperson thanked the Legal Advisor for her briefing.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the suggested amendments to the General Procedures Direction; the Confidentiality Agreement; and the Guide to the Rules.
Noted: The Committee noted that the Assembly Commission is due to consider the draft Policy at its meeting on 19 November 2025 and, if agreed, a draft Committee report to the Assembly will be prepared for Committee consideration.
10. APG issues
The Assistant Clerk briefed the Committee on this agenda item.
Stewart Dickson declared an interest that he is a member of the proposed APG on Artificial Intelligence.
Agreed: The Committee agreedthat it was content to approve the establishment of the APG on Artificial Intelligence.
11. Correspondence
Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence dated 16 September 2025 from the Scottish Parliament on its review of MSP sanctions, and that the Committee Clerk and the Chairperson (if available) will meet with the reviewer as requested.
Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence from the Electoral Commission requesting the Committee to consider amendments to the MLA Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules to take account of updates to the registration requirements arising from the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider the proposals from the Electoral Commission as part of its wider work on considering recommended amendments to the MLA Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules.
Agreed: The Committee noted the invitation from the Senedd to the Chairperson to provide evidence on the scrutiny of the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill and agreed the draft written response on this matter.
12. Any other business
None.
13. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 3 December 2025 at 10.00 a.m. in Room 106.
The meeting was adjourned at 12.40 p.m.
Cathy Mason MLA
Chairperson, Committee on Standards and Privileges
3 December 2025
