An MP who sexually harassed a teenager is back in the SNP after a six month suspension.
Patrick Grady has also regained the SNP whip at Westminster, despite receiving a two day Commons ban earlier this year.
Grady was found by the Westminster authorities to have made unwanted sexual advances to a 19 year old SNP staffer in 2016 by touching and stroking his hair, back and neck.
He was ordered to make a public apology, as well as a private one to the victim.
According to the Times, an internal memo stated that the SNP member conduct committee "imposed upon Patrick a six-month suspension of his party membership”.
The newspaper quoted an email from SNP Westminster chief whip Martin Docherty-Hughes: “This six-month suspension was backdated to the point at which Patrick’s membership was placed in administrative suspension — and this six-month period has now lapsed.
“Patrick Grady MP has therefore had his membership of the SNP reinstated and, as such, he has regained the SNP Westminster group whip.”
The handling of Grady’s sexual misconduct is believed to have played a role in the resignation of Ian Blackford as SNP leader of the Commons.
A leaked recording showed him urging colleagues to show support for Grady while failing to mention the victim.
Labour MSP Neil Bibby said: “This decision clearly shows that under Stephen Flynn the SNP has no desire to root out sleaze or punish misdemeanours. It is business as usual for the SNP Westminster club. Patrick Grady should have the whip removed now. At the next election, the people of Glasgow will have the chance to give Mr Grady his jotters.”
Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine said: “This decision by the SNP to brush Patrick Grady's behaviour under the carpet and welcome him back into the parliamentary party under cover of the Christmas break is beneath contempt.
"It was unpleasant enough to hear Ian Blackford rallying support among SNP MPs for Patrick Grady instead of his victim over the summer yet alone to see that all is seemingly forgiven just 6 months later.
"All parties need to do better in dealing with proven cases of unacceptable behaviour. For the SNP that should start with once again removing the party whip from Patrick Grady."
Scottish Tory MSP Annie Wells said: “It’s disgraceful that Patrick Grady has got away with little more than a slap on the wrist.
"His belated resignation back in June was already far too little, too late. The fact that he has now been welcomed back into the Westminster fold after just a few short months is a slap in the face to his victim.
“Ian Blackford’s shameful decision to back Grady, rather than his victim, was the main reason cited for SNP MPs toppling him as Westminster leader. Yet now his spineless successor Stephen Flynn has happily invited Grady to rejoin the fold.
“Nicola Sturgeon is equally culpable in this craven decision – and should be ashamed of herself for giving this the green light."
An SNP spokesperson said: “Following a six-month suspension, Patrick Grady has resumed his membership of the SNP.”
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