Zero tolerance
EXCLUSIVE BLACKFORD ISSUES WARNING
BY PAUL HUTCHEON & TORCUIL CRICHTON THE SNP’s Ian Blackford has told staff that the party has a “zero-tolerance approach to inappropriate behaviour” in the wake of two complaints of sexual harassment.
The party’s Westminster group has been left reeling by revelations in the Record that left Patrick Grady MP standing aside from his role as chief whip and a female MP facing complaints of sexual harassment.
An SNP staff member submitted a formal complaint this week about an incident allegedly involving Grady and another claiming to involve a female MP.
The young man accused the Glasgow North MP of inappropriately touching him in a London pub in 2016 and the female MP of inappropriately propositioning him in a Commons bar last year.
The complainer told the
Daily Record his complaint had previously been “swept under the carpet” by the party who, he claimed, had directed him towards the House of Commons complaints system.
Blackford, the SNP leader at Westminster, contacted staff on Wednesday to acknowledge the “upsetting” news and assure them that support was available from the party.
In a letter to staff, Blackford said: “Following the news of allegations of sexual harassment, I wanted to write and offer reassurance that the
SNP Westminster Group has a zero-tolerance approach to inappropriate behaviour.
“I appreciate seeing such news reports can be upsetting, and I wanted to remind staff of the resources available to you should you have any concerns.”
Blackford detailed the complaints route open to staff and promised to give more details at a meeting today.
“Of course, if you believe that you may have been the victim of a crime, you should not hesitate to go to the police.”
The complaint Blackford referred to is understood to relate to the details of a claim made by an SNP staffer revealed in the Record on Monday. The junior staffer alleged two MPs sexually harassed him in separate incidents in London.
He told the Record how he had been inappropriately touched by Grady in a London pub in 2016 and propositioned by a female MP in January 2020 in Westminster’s Strangers’ Bar where MPs, guests and party workers meet socially.
The staffer claims Grady inappropriately touched him when he was 19 and accused another SNP MP of drunkenly asking him for sex in two separate incidents in London.
The female MP has issued a strong denial of the 2020 incident but Grady has not responded to requests for comment.
Blackford’s letter came as the SNP leader sought to regroup his team in the wake of the scandal.
It was confirmed yesterday that Midlothian MP Owen Thomson will be the SNP’s acting chief whip while Grady stands aside from the role.