Swinney Orders Review After SNP Figure Convicted of Sex Crimes

First Minister John Swinney has ordered an independent review of the Scottish National Party (SNP)'s complaints process following the conviction of former council leader Jordan Linden for sexually assaulting young men. According to multiple reports, Linden, 30, was found guilty on Thursday of five sexual assaults and sending unwanted sexual communications to teenagers aged as young as 14.

Linden's offenses took place over a decade from 2011 until 2021 while he held positions in the SNP and chaired the Scottish Youth Parliament. The trial heard harrowing accounts of Linden's behavior, including sending explicit photos and making unwanted advances during events organized by the party and its youth wing.

The SNP issued a statement welcoming Linden's conviction and commending the bravery of his victims. A spokesperson said Swinney had instructed an independent review of the party's complaints procedures to ensure they are 'as robust as they can be.' The Scottish Youth Parliament also condemned Linden's actions, stating they were 'reprehensible and diametrically opposed' to its values.

During the trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court, prosecutors argued that Linden had abused his position of trust to prey on young men seeking support. Police Scotland praised the victims for coming forward, noting how their testimony ensured Linden was brought before the courts. The Scottish Conservatives called on Swinney to be 'completely transparent' about how the SNP leadership handled complaints against Linden.

Linden initially faced 15 charges but was acquitted of six involving stalking and sexual assault. He has been placed on the sex offenders register pending sentencing in May. The case has raised serious questions about safeguarding within political organizations, with both the SNP and Scottish Youth Parliament reviewing their procedures.

Facing intense scrutiny after Thursday’s verdict, Swinney ordered an ‘independent review’ of the party’s procedures, but opposition parties said only full transparency would do. According to BBC News, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell was informed of complaints about Linden a decade ago by Amy Lee Fraioli, who was on the board of the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) in 2016.

Fraioli confirmed that the SYP began receiving reports in 2016 about members being sent sexual images and decided to bring in a private law firm to investigate. The youth parliament's officials were based in the same Edinburgh building as the SNP, and the SYP's chief executive Ben McKendrick informed Murrell about the probe.

Despite the investigation, Linden was elected as a councillor in North Lanarkshire in 2017. Five years later he became the authority's leader but resigned two months later when more allegations of sexual harassment emerged. Fraioli first became involved with the SYP when she was a teenager and served as its chair in 2017.

Councillors have accused the SNP of putting Jordan Linden’s victims ‘through hell’ by protecting the ‘paedophile’ and ignoring complaints about his conduct. During a tense and emotional meeting of the full North Lanarkshire Council, members praised the former council leader’s victims and called for those in the SNP who backed him to resign.

A total of 50 councillors backed a winning motion which called on the SNP to lose a £10,000 pay boost given to its group leader as a result of the party’s failure over the Linden scandal. The motion to remove the SNP’s special payment passed by 50 votes to 21.

Secret recordings of internal SNP group meetings after Linden was forced to resign in 2022 showed one councillor, Kirsten Larson, say that the only thing she thought Linden was guilty of was ‘being a young person.’ When this was raised during the meeting by one of Linden’s victims, fellow councillor Cameron McManus, Ms. Larson called for ‘dignity and respect’ and accused him of ‘selectively quoting’ her comments.

Mr. McManus said he would show ‘more respect’ for his former colleagues ‘than all of them have shown me.’ He said: ‘All of them do have my mobile number, and not once in the last week has any of them contacted me. Dignity and respect? Look in the mirror.’

Paul DiMascio, one of several former SNP councillors who were ejected from the party after supporting Mr McManus, said Ms Carragher and Ms Fotheringham should ‘do the right thing and resign.’ He said: ‘A survivor was put through hell, and so were the six members who stood by him. Almost every member [of the SNP] is culpable, in my view. Tracy Carragher and Fiona Fotheringham, not to mention the other colleagues…none of them are fit to hold public office. You should both do the right thing and resign.’

Other ex-SNP councillors David Crichton, Greg Lennon, and Gerry Brennan also criticized their former party for forcing them out for backing Mr McManus.