First Minister apologises to victims of ex-council leader

SNP leader John Swinney has apologised to the victims of an ex-council leader who was convicted of sexually assaulting young men.

The first minister said he was "very sorry" to anyone who suffered because of Jordan Linden - the former SNP leader of North Lanarkshire Council.

Linden, 30, was also found guilty at Falkirk Sheriff Court last week of sending sexual messages to boys as young as 14.

Swinney had ordered an independent review of the SNP's complaints process, after some witnesses claimed complaints about him were ignored by the party.

Swinney said: "For anybody who has suffered as a consequence of the behaviour of Jordan Linden, I'm very, very, sorry for what they have experienced.

"I want to make sure the SNP has the strongest possible complaints handling process in place in all circumstances."

The SNP leader said the party's complaints process was reviewed in 2022 but he now wanted to make sure "some independent scrutiny" was applied.

He said this would ensure that the party had "the strongest arrangements in place."

Swinney added: "The SNP has an effective process to scrutinise any poor behaviour, any abusive behaviour, and we will review that to make sure that it is appropriate for all the circumstances that we may face."

The first minister also said it was vital to listen to "the account and the experience" of complainers and he would be "very happy" to meet with Linden's victims.

The SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn previously said he was "absolute horrified" by Linden's rise through the party ranks and was angry on behalf of the victims.

North Lanarkshire councillor, Cameron McManus - who had complained about Linden's actions - told BBC Scotland News that the SNP had handled the situation "horrendously".

He said: "They've tried to avoid the situation, downplay it, and call myself and quite a lot of the other victims liars.

"I know personally some of the other victims that came forward and made the SNP aware of it."

Linden's offences took place over a 10-year period from 2011 until 2021.

Falkirk Sheriff Court heard from victims who recalled assaults and unwanted advances by Linden.

Other offences included sending explicit photos of himself in a bath and shots of his genitalia.

One incident was reported to have taken place in 2019, following a Dundee Pride parade with Out For Independence - the LGBT wing of the SNP.

The court heard from a party official who said Linden had locked him in a bathroom and tried to get him to urinate while he watched.

Another witness told the trial that during a trip to Barcelona with Young Scots for Independence - the youth wing of the SNP - Linden had climbed into his bed at a hostel and started caressing him and trying to kiss him.

Linden became a councillor for the SNP the following year, and rose to become North Lanarkshire council leader in 2022.

He resigned from the post a few weeks later when the allegations emerged.

He had denied all the charges against him – saying they either did not take place, or were consensual.

Many offences occurred while Linden, from Bellshill in Lanarkshire, was chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament.

It said Linden's actions were "reprehensible and diametrically opposed" to its values.

Last Thursday Linden was placed on the sex offenders register before being released on bail ahead of his sentencing on 5 May.