SNP candidate urged to quit over handling of sex assault complaints

An SNP election candidate has been urged to quit over her handling of complaints of sexual assault against a former council leader.

But the SNP’s selected candidates “will go forward for election”, First Minister John Swinney has insisted.

Tracy Carragher, leader of the SNP group on North Lanarkshire Council, is being urged to step down over her handling of sexual assault allegations against former council leader Jordan Linden.

Linden was convicted of ten separate offences following a trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court. The convictions included five sexual assaults.

Glasgow & West

Former SNP politician sexually assaulted five young men and boys

Jordan Linden, 30, is the former leader of North Lanarkshire Council and of the Scottish Youth Parliament

Carragher, who is a list candidate for Central Scotland at the May election, is facing calls to resign after audio clips from a 2022 meeting were made public in which she voiced support for Linden after reports of his crimes.

Swinney has announced an independent review of the SNP’s complaints process.

Speaking on Wednesday, Swinney said: “It’s really important that in all of these situations, we listen to the voices of those who complain and that we address those issues, and that’s exactly the approach that the SNP is taking.

“The review that I have set out will explore and examine all the ways in which these issues have been handled and those issues will be resolved by the SNP.”

Carragher is facing a council motion where she is accused of having ignored or downplayed complaints about Linden.

The motion, due to be debated on Thursday, calls for Carragher’s immediate resignation alongside that of her colleague Fiona Fotheringham.

When asked if he had confidence in Carragher, Swinney responded: “The party selected its candidates and its candidates will go forward for election.”