The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
SNP investigating sexual misconduct complaints
Party leaders to meet to discuss allegations
The SNP is investigating complaints of sexual misconduct as an urgent meeting of Scotland’s party leaders has been called amid allegations of harassment at Holyrood.
The party said two people had raised separate complaints which will be fully investigated. Human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar has said women ranging from MSPs to interns had made complaints and he accused politicians of maintaining an “abject silence” on the issue.
A spokesman for the SNP said: “The SNP has had concerns of this nature raised by two different individuals.
“The individuals and their concerns are unconnected to each other. These will be fully investigated but inquiries remain at an early stage.
“We will do nothing to deter people from coming forward and, as such, we will not comment further while investigations are ongoing.”
All of Holyrood’s opposition parties said yesterday they had not received any complaints.
In the Commons, Theresa May’s official spokesman declined to say whether the Prime Minister had full confidence in international trade minister Mark Garnier, who is the subject of an internal government inquiry into sexually suggestive comments he made to his secretary.
A list of 13 MPs facing harassment allegations and a spreadsheet detailing a wide range of sexual incidents involving up to 40 MPs has been circulating in Westminster, according to reports.
The Guido Fawkes website claimed Tory aides had drawn up a list of 36 Conservative MPs – including 20 ministers – accused of inappropriate behaviour. The Conservatives at Westminster declined to comment.
Earlier, Ms Sturgeon said in Dundee that she is not aware of any allegations against her MSPs or MPs. But when asked about councillors, she did not answer directly, saying: “I anticipate that we will have concerns coming forward, like every political party will, and we will investigate.”
Ms Sturgeon, who said she was not surprised by the claims about Holyrood but did not know of any specific incidents, described the emerging scandal as a “watershed moment”.
The SNP leader said they will look at party complaint procedures, saying it is important to “cast a critical eye” over them. Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Conservative leader, also announced a review into her party’s complaints procedures.
Over the weekend the PM ordered the Cabinet Office inquiry into whether Mr Garnier had breached the ministerial code over claims he asked his Commons secretary to buy sex toys.