Stop the rot at Scandal parly
Fury after councillor sex claims
the UK Government has been asked to investigate a scandal- hit youth charity after allegations of sexual misconduct were made against its ex-chairman.
MSP Meghan Gallagher has called for a review of the Scottish Youth Parliament amid claims SNP councillor Jordan Linden sexually harassed several young men and a teenager when he was leader.
The Scottish Tories want the age range at the organisation – currently 14 to 24 – to be looked at.
Linden was forced to quit as leader of North Lanarkshire Council after we revealed claims that he had sexually harassed a young SNP member following a Pride march in 2019.
Since then, several young men have come forward to make further allegations of misconduct against him, which they said were dismissed or ignored while they were at the Scottish Youth Parliament.
The organisation is carrying out an i nter na l rev iew of it s processes in handl ing the 2016 complaints, which has attracted criticism from Linden’s alleged victims.
Gallagher, a Central Scotland Tory MSP, has written to Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack asking him to step in and push for reform. In the letter, she said she had been disappointed by the Scottish Government’s response to the latest revelations about Linden and the SYP, which was given almost £350,000 in taxpayers’ cash last year.
She wrote: “While the SYP is an independent charity, it receives significant funding from the Scottish Government and, for many young people, their involvement in this organisation will be a formative experience which wi l l inf luence their decision to continue to pursue a career in politics.”
Speaking to the Sunday Mail, Gallagher added: “The culture of abuse, bul lying and sexual harassment at the Scottish Youth Parliament is extremely serious and it’s clear to me that robust reforms are needed to root out this unacceptable behaviour and ensure the safety and wellbeing of youngsters.”
A spokesman f rom the Scottish Youth Parliament said two o f its t r us t e e s had met Gallagher earlier this month.
He said: “Meghan didn’t raise such serious concerns and said she was reassured by our response, policies and the review that is now ongoing – so we’re surprised and disappointed to read these comments.”