Neil Gray claims he 'knew nothing' of Jordan Linden scandal until media reports

During a debate at North Lanarkshire Council on Thursday, senior SNP figures including Mr Gray were accused of not engaging with complaints processes after allegations were made about Linden.

Former council leader Linden was was found guilty of multiple sex offences against young men and boys last week.

Despite knowing about the allegations, SNP councillor and group leader Tracy Carragher continued to support Linden.

READ MORE: SNP councillor suspended by party over handling of complaints against sex offender Linden

Earlier this week, Mr Gray said he had not been informed of Linden’s conduct.

At a campaign event in Calderbank, North Lanarkshire, he also stood by Ms Carragher - just hours before she was suspended by the party on Wednesday pending investigations.

Pressed on the matter, given he is the local MSP, the health secretary repeated: “As far as I'm aware from my memory, the first I was aware of the allegations that we're talking about were when they were reported in the newspaper.”

He added, in reference to initial reporting in Buzzfeed News: “I think there was previous reporting around the issues at the Scottish Youth Parliament, but that was the first that was substantiated, and that was the first I was made aware.”

During Thursday’s debate, former SNP councillor Greg Lennon said: “Evidence was presented to the previous national secretary Lorna Finn but was ignored.

“It is also important to recognise that those SNP branch members who formally raised complaints and concerns regarding Linden’s alleged actions and the SNP group’s leadership handling of those concerns.

“Members from Uddingston and Bellshill, along with Motherwell and Wishaw, wrote to Ian McCann and Lorna Finn as far back as August and September 2022.

“Fast forward to May 2023 and further efforts were made to address those concerns.”

In 2024 Mr Lennon was handed a two-month suspension for breaching the code of conduct with social media posts slating "the council and Labour's PR machine".

At Thursday’s meeting he added: “MSPs Stephanie Callaghan, Claire Adamson, along with the former SNP MP Steven Bonnar attempted to intervene and mitigate the situation, but those efforts did not succeed in part due to the lack of engagement from senior figures including Neil Gray, Jamie Hepburn, and Fulton MacGregor.

“The suggestion that the party had no knowledge of what was taking place is deeply concerning.”

Scottish Labour has now demanded that Mr Gray explains what he knew about the Linden allegations and why he failed to engage with those who raised concerns.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “This SNP scandal is getting increasingly murky.

READ MORE: Female SNP MSP’s office ‘bugged’ by male staffer still involved in the party

“Neil Gray has been an elected MP and MSP in North Lanarkshire for the SNP since 2015. It is deeply troubling if he was aware of Linden and chose not to do anything.”

Questioned at a campaign event, Mr Gray said the situation was “regrettable” now “in hindsight”, adding that the SNP is reviewing its complaints procedures and having the system independently verified.

The health secretary said: ”The situation as we knew it then, as the council group will have known it then, is different from where it is now.”

Insisting again that he had not heard any information about Linden ahead of reading it in the media, he said he had not known his party colleague “all that well”.

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A spokeswoman for the SNP repeated an earlier statement, saying: “We take this issue seriously and the voices of complainants must always be heard.”