Former MP pays £35,000 for unfair dismissal

A case of unfair dismissal has led to a former MP being ordered to pay more than £35,000 to his ex-office manager after she won her claim in a jobs tribunal.

Subject to workplace bullying and harassment, the victim, Marion Kinley, signed off work sick after she realised boss Jim Devine had played an elaborate prank on her.

The judge upheld her unfair dismissal claim as when she tried to return to work, Ms Kinley was suspended and the guilty party spread rumours about his employee, claiming she had appropriate funds and suffered from a gambling addiction.

Ms Kinley became aware of the hoax after she checked her boss's emails, the Scottish Sun reports, where she found one saying: "I phoned that poor woman in your office and left the message. Hope you've put her out of her misery. Remind me never to work for you," from an employee of the Science Media Centre in London.