SNP sex offender Jordan Linden: Whose side are you on, John Swinney?
John Swinney must name and shame those in the SNP who were responsible for the disgraceful cover-up over the Jordan Linden case
In July 2022, Jordan Linden, a rising SNP star, abruptly resigned as the leader of North Lanarkshire Council after allegations that he had groped a teenager three years earlier.
At the time, an SNP spokesperson suggested the matter was closed, saying: “The individual made clear to the SNP that the matter was resolved, and he would not be making a complaint.”
Except it wasn’t. Last week, a court found Linden guilty of five sexual assaults against young men, over a period stretching from 2011 to 2021, and directing unwanted sexual communications towards seven teenagers, including one who was just 14.
All too often the victims, who knew Linden through the Scottish Youth Parliament or the SNP, described their complaints being downplayed or ignored by so-called responsible adults.
SNP councillors forced out
Linden’s resignation in 2022 could have been the SNP’s cue to investigate but they failed to do so. Instead, the following year, eight North Lanarkshire councillors were forced out of the SNP because of their frustration over the party’s complacency.
While six resigned, two were reportedly expelled by the SNP, which responded to the councillors’ breakaway by accusing them of lacking respect for voters.
In September last year, those same councillors wrote to SNP leader John Swinney setting out their concerns in detail. Their letter stated that after the councillors raised safeguarding concerns about Linden, they were “subjected to prolonged suspension, exclusion, bullying and harassment and a series of unfounded or mishandled complaints. As a result, all eight councillors subsequently left the SNP.”
The councillors urged Swinney to investigate why their complaints were not taken seriously. They never received a reply.
On Sunday, Swinney apologised profusely to Linden’s victims, and pledged to ensure “the SNP has the strongest possible complaints handling process in place in all circumstances”. Humza Yousaf had previously promised a review but it appears that nothing of substance happened.
But why did Swinney not look into the complaints process six months ago? Or even take the time to reply to those councillors who were vilified for putting their principles first? Actions demonstrate who you are and Swinney has swept this under the carpet.
A lack of judgment
Tracy Carragher, a fellow SNP councillor who is standing as a Holyrood candidate, testified in Linden’s defence at the trial. She says she simply gave an “honest account of my involvement and my knowledge of events”.
At best, this betrays a naivety and lack of judgment that makes her unfit for public office, yet the SNP has refused to sack her as a candidate.
This is the unsavoury face of the SNP – a party that ignores sexual assaults committed by their members and closes ranks against whistleblowers who call out that disgusting behaviour.
If Swinney is serious about improving the culture of his party, he should immediately name and shame those in the SNP who were responsible for this disgraceful cover-up and remove Carragher as a candidate.
Otherwise, there is only one conclusion to draw – that Swinney is not on the side of the victims of Linden’s sexual abuse, but on the side of those who covered up for him, with the SNP putting party before the victims of sexual abuse yet again.
Jackie Baillie is MSP for Dumbarton and Scottish Labour’s deputy leader and spokesperson for health