Leaked recordings of SNP politicians trying to shut down the Jordan Linden sex scandal have been branded ‘disgraceful’.
Scottish Labour said it showed the true nature of the ‘Scottish Nasty Party’.
A North Lanarkshire councillor posted the recordings to show how Linden’s colleagues tried to protect him days after he quit as council leader in 2022 over misconduct claims.
Councillors can be heard backing Linden, 30, who is said to have ‘support from the party’. They also warn against leaks to the press which could add to the crisis.
The Scottish Tories called it ‘manipulation and cover-up’.
Linden was put on the sex offenders register last week after being found guilty of ten offences against young men, including five sexual assaults, between 2011 and 2021.
His trial heard victims warned the SNP about him, but complaints were ignored and whistleblowers treated like liars.
John Swinney ordered a review of the SNP’s complaints process, but it then emerged he ignored a plea for better safeguarding from Linden’s former colleagues six months ago.
Meghan Gallagher, Scottish Tory candidate for Linden’s hometown of Bellshill, said: ‘These recordings highlight the scale of manipulation and cover-up the SNP were engaged in.
‘Swinney’s independent review into the SNP’s complaints procedure is a cynical PR exercise.
‘His party will always put their interests before doing the right thing.’
One of Linden’s key allies during his offending was Tracy Carragher, now leader of the SNP opposition on the council and a Holyrood list candidate for Central Scotland.
She and fellow SNP councillor Fiona Fotheringham were defence witnesses in the trial.
On the leaked recordings, Cllr Carragher is heard saying: ‘Jordan’s got a lot of support. He’s got support from the party, from his family and from his partner. The party told him not to comment.
Cllr Fotheringham cited the backlash to then SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford for urging colleagues to ‘give as much support as possible’ to sex pest MP Patrick Grady,
She said: ‘We are supportive of Jordan. We send our love. We’ve sent our support.’
She then added: ‘I would not expect to read anything like that in the papers.’
Cllr Claire Barclay said she was ‘disgusted’ at leaks, claiming whoever leaked one particular email had ‘put the party at risk and independence at risk’, adding: ‘It’s evil, absolute evil.’
She said: ‘If it doesn’t stop, we’ll find out who that person is and the full force of disciplinary [action] will go against them. That is a final warning. The cameras are on us.’
Cllr Kirsten Larson said: ‘Based on the information I have, the only thing Jordan Linden is guilty of is being a young person.’
Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: ‘These recordings prove that the Scottish Nasty Party are determined to bully and gaslight victims of sexual abuse to try and desperately preserve their reputation.
‘Disgraceful remarks can be heard from several SNP councillors in these recordings.
‘Despite the SNP attempting to deny knowing about Linden’s despicable behaviour, they were told explicitly about him in emails sent in 2017 and 2022.
‘The SNP and Swinney are not fit for office. They are a party that is addicted to cover-up and secrecy.’
The four councillors who were taped were approached for comment.
The SNP said it ‘welcomes the verdict against Mr Linden and commends the bravery of the individuals who came forward and shared their experiences with the police’.
Hellbound and Down 