Resign or be sacked
SNP Westminster leader Blackford By faces growing calls to quit after he’s caught on tape backing sex pest MP
IAN Blackford was last night urged to resign as SNP leader in Westminster over his backing for a sex pest MP.
A secret recording revealed the senior Nationalist urging colleagues to give their ‘absolute full support’ to the party’s Patrick Grady, who had made unwanted sexual advances towards a teenage male staff member.
Yesterday Scottish politicians called for Mr Blackford to step down or for Nicola Sturgeon to sack him if he does not go.
In a meeting 15 minutes after it emerged Mr Grady was going to be suspended for only two days, Mr Blackford told Nationalists he ‘looked forward to welcoming Patrick back into the group’ next week.
Amid applause from fellow SNP MPs, Mr Blackford said their colleague faced challenges in the coming weeks and would need their support. The bombshell tape was leaked to the Scottish Daily Mail and published yesterday.
Last night Scottish Conservative deputy leader Meghan Gallacher said Mr Blackford had shown an ‘appalling’ lack of judgment in siding with the SNP’s former chief whip and called on Ms Sturgeon to sack him. She said: ‘Ian Blackford cannot remain as leader of the SNP at Westminster. Patrick Grady’s unacceptable misconduct involving a teenage SNP staffer amounted to a huge breach of trust.
‘Grady should have been properly censured by the SNP. Ian Blackford should resign for his appalling lack of judgment and, if not, Nicola Sturgeon should sack him.’
Ms Gallacher also criticised the SNP’s handling of the scandal, which saw Mr Blackford preside over a meeting between the victim and Mr Grady in Westminster.
‘Ever since this complaint was first raised the SNP have been evasive and
‘Has shown an appalling lack of judgment’
sought to sweep it under the carpet,’ Ms Gallacher said. ‘Then, Blackford and his colleagues were shamefully mealy-mouthed in condemning Patrick Grady when the brave victim was vindicated this week. Now we know why. There was an orchestrated campaign from the very top of the SNP to back Patrick Grady – rather than support the young victim.’
Labour MSP Neil Bibby accused the SNP of closing ranks over the affair which saw the 19-year-old male staffer stroked and touched by Mr Grady in a pub in London in 2016.
Mr Bibby said: ‘That Ian Blackford and SNP MPs would stand and applaud after one of their colleagues admitted abusing his position to take sexual advantage of a staff member is disgusting. Mr Blackford is leader of the UK’s third party and a close ally of the First Minister; he must stand aside.’
Mr Grady, 42, who represents Glasgow North, also faces calls to resign from his seat. The SNP was first made aware of the allegations in February 2018, but he remained as the party’s chief whip for three years.
Last week a report found Mr Grady had significantly breached Parliament’s sexual misconduct standards. Mr Bibby said: ‘Patrick Grady should do the only honourable thing and resign his seat immediately.’
Reacting to the recording of Mr Blackford, the victim said: ‘I’m not surprised by the actions of Ian Blackford and the SNP MPs. There is no route back to work for me when the leader is directing MPs to support the harasser, rather than the victim.’
He said the decision to withdraw the party whip only until Mr Grady’s twoday suspension was over ‘was atrocious’, adding: ‘It shows there isn’t zero tolerance, there is a tolerance to a certain degree of what sexual misconduct can be allowed in the party.
‘It seems to me that the group as a whole, but led by Ian Blackford, are still protecting Patrick Grady, even after the report has vindicated me.
‘Ian needs to consider his position as leader of the group, because one of the roles as leader of the group is overall responsibility of staff.
‘As long as that remains a responsibility of the leader, Ian Blackford is not fit to be leader.’
The SNP was asked to comment.