An SNP council leader has quit today after allegations he sexually harassed a teenager at a party.
Jordan Linden, who resigned after just two months in charge in North Lanarkshire, expressed “regret” for his actions and apologised.
The Sunday Mail reported last weekend how Linden had been accused of groping a teenager in 2019.
The newspaper reported claims of an incident in a flat in Dundee following a Pride parade in the city.
Days after the march Linden pulled out of the race to be an SNP candidate for Westminster.
Linden is due to address SNP colleagues at 5pm.
In an email to colleagues, he wrote: "I want to make colleagues aware that I am resigning from my position as Leader of North Lanarkshire Council today.
"Although I have never approached any personal interaction with ill intent, I accept that my behaviour at that party in 2019 caused a sense of discomfort which I entirely regret. I offered my apologies to the person concerned at the time and the matter was closed. I reiterate that apology today. And in all that’s been said in recent days, the empathetic words from that individual have given me the most reassurance.
"The recent press coverage of this has placed an immense strain on me personally. My mental health and wellbeing is being seriously affected, and the impact it is having is profound. This is foremost in my consideration about my future, as well as the interests of my partner, family and those closest to me. By resigning, I hope to be allowed the space to get my mental health back in balance.
"I have no wish for my personal circumstances to overshadow the work of the political administration of the council as it implements the manifesto on which it was elected in May.
He added: "The council carries out extremely important work every day for people across the whole of North Lanarkshire and it is vital that there is no distraction, particularly at a time when many of the people we represent face unprecedented cost of living pressures and daily challenges.
"It has been the privilege of my life to serve in this role, and I remain proud that I was able to lead the Scottish National Party to administration in North Lanarkshire for the first time. I intend to continue to represent the people of Bellshill to the very best of my ability as a councillor, as I have done since first being elected in 2017. The privilege of representing my home town continues to be incredibly special to me."
The 27 year old, who leads a minority administration in North Lanarkshire, was in line to face a motion of no confidence after Labour called on him to quit.
With the arithmetic tight, insiders say he was not guaranteed to win the vote and could have plunged the new administration into crisis.
Labour MSP Neil Bibby said: “This resignation was the right thing to do, but it doesn’t fix the rotten culture of secrecy and cover-up at the heart of the SNP.
“His apology makes it all the more appalling that the SNP hierarchy were so willing to close ranks to protect him.
“The SNP cannot keep looking the other way and letting their scandal-hit politicians call the shots.”
Tory MSP Annie Wells said: “Jordan Linden’s resignation and apology are at least a partial acknowledgement of the distress he caused and his responsibility for it. That is more than other SNP members have done in similar cases.
“But the issue here was never just about Mr Linden’s misconduct, but about the SNP’s reluctance to deal with serious allegations against senior party figures.
“In this case, as in the Patrick Grady one, the party closed ranks and evaded questioning.
“Above all, they sided once again with the perpetrator, rather than offer support to the victim. The SNP must finally address the appalling way in which they handle cases of abuse and harassment within their ranks, and fundamentally change their culture to safeguard complainants.”
An SNP spokesperson said: “The individual made clear to the SNP that the matter was resolved, and he would not be making a complaint."
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