Councillor denies sex harassment
An EX-SNP councillor has denied sexual harassment allegations against him – but has admitted to having an alcohol problem.
Former Edinburgh planning chief Lewis Ritchie said he believed in “redemption” as he refuted two sex claims.
The Local Politician of the Year nominee confirmed he would still represent the Leith Walk ward as an Independent.
Former Edinburgh city council planning chief Lewis Ritchie has admitted to having an alcohol problem – as he denied sexual harassment allegations made against him.
Speaking exclusively to The Scotsman, the EX-SNP councillor said alcohol had caused him to make mistakes in the past and harm to those around him. But Mr Ritchie denied two sexual harassment allegations revealed yesterday by SNP party leaders.
“I deny all the allegations that have been made against me,” Mr Ritchie said. “However, I do recognise I have a drink problem and at times this has caused harm and upset to those who care about me and to those I wouldn’t want to cause harm.
“I consider representing my local community the greatest honour that anyone can have. I recognise I have a problem, but I also believe in redemption.
“With the help and support of friends and family I hope to continue to do what I always wanted to do – to help people and serve my local community.”
Mr Ritchie quit the SNP after being accused of punching another delegate in a taxi at the party’s annual conference in Glasgow in October.
Now the party has confirmed there were two more accusations outstanding. An SNP spokeswoman said yesterday: “One concerned an incident at SNP conference. The other two contained allegations of a sexual harassment nature.
“Cllr Ritchie was suspended pending a hearing before subsequently resigning from the SNP.”
The Scotsman has seen a statement from one of Mr Ritchie’s alleged victims.
It reads: “I’m fearful that his behaviour puts others, especially women, at risk and it’s clear that alcohol is a trigger for this.
“My experience, like so many others we’ve seen in the media in the recent past, was of sustained harassment when he had me alone, despite several attempts to get him to stop.”
Mr Ritchie has confirmed he will still represent the Leith Walk ward as an independent.
His decision means the SNP will no longer hold the highest number of seats in the council, instead tying with the Tories.
The SNP’S internal disciplinary committee confirmed it had been considering complaints and Mr Ritchie had been suspended pending a hearing. He had stepped aside asplanningchiefinnovember for “health reasons”.
It is understood he was offered support by the council in recent months for his problems. Mr Ritchie had been shortlisted for the Local Politician of the Year category at the prestigious Politician of the Year awards.