“I welcome the decision of the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Commissioner for Standards to dismiss the complaint lodged against me in relation to questions I asked during a committee session last October.
“The complaint, submitted by Dr Paschal McKeown of Age NI, concerned my questioning of her colleague, Dr Kelly Turtle. I asked whether Age NI would regard it as transphobic if an elderly person in a care home requested to be assisted by someone of the same biological sex. This is a legitimate and relevant concern, especially in the context of public policy and safeguarding.
“Rather than receiving an answer, I was subjected to a formal investigation — simply for raising the question and referring to Dr Turtle’s publicly available statements on social media. That investigation has now concluded, and the findings are clear.
“The Commissioner found that:
• My questions were consistent with the TUV manifesto, which clearly sets out our stance on transgenderism (Paragraph 42);
• Restricting MLAs from raising such questions in committee would constitute “an obvious interference with political expression” (Paragraph 45);
• There was no improper interference with the work of the Assembly (Paragraph 29) and
• It was not unreasonable for me to have read and referenced Dr Turtle’s public posts (Paragraph 40).
“This ruling is a welcome affirmation of the essential role that MLAs play in scrutinising public policy—particularly on sensitive and contested matters. As the Commissioner noted:
“It is Mr Gaston’s role, as a member of that committee, to ask questions of witnesses that appear before it.” (Paragraph 29)
“That is a basic democratic principle, and I trust the Chair of the Committee, Paula Bradshaw, will reflect carefully on the report’s findings.
“It is also important to note that the transcript of Ms Bradshaw’s interview with the Commissioner raises troubling suggestions:
• She claims that witnesses “weren’t there for scrutiny” (page 43) —a fundamental misunderstanding of committee proceedings as illustrated by the Commissioner’s findings;
• She attempts, without evidence, to suggest that I have acted in a sectarian manner (page 43) – something she couldn’t defend when challenged (see here );
• She complains that I come “prepared” each week with a list of questions and argues that this goes “against the convention of committees” where, by her own admission in the same interview, MLAs sometimes appear without having even read the papers or even understanding the role of the department (page 45);
• She even accuses me of “persistent foul play,” citing my appearances on the Nolan Show or articles published in the News Letter (page 46).
“Scrutiny is not only permitted in the Assembly —it is essential. Attempting to silence MLAs for raising legitimate concerns undermines the integrity of our democracy. All who value freedom of speech and proper scrutiny should welcome this report.
“I will continue to represent the people who elected me with honesty, conviction, and a determination to speak plainly on issues that matter – including transgender madness.
“I welcome the fact that since the meeting took place in October the Supreme Court has ruled that single sex spaces should be respected and that elderly people in care homes have a legal right to demand that they receive intimate care from those of the same biological sex. I trust that all charities – including Age NI – have taken note of this and will not have difficulty answering such simple questions going forward.”
You can read the full report vindicating Mr Gaston and clearing him of all alleged wrongdoing here .