Ian Blackford has issued an apology saying he "deeply regrets" a celebration employee being sexual harassed by an SNP MP.
The SNP Westminster chief has confronted calls to resign after an audio recording revealed he urged Nationalist MPs to rally round Patrick Grady who was discovered responsible by Commons authorities.
Grady, MP for Glasgow North, made an “undesirable sexual advance” in the direction of a employees member, then aged 19, in 2016.
Within the audio clip Blackford could possibly be heard saying Grady “goes to face plenty of challenges over the quick time period and so he ought to have our absolute full assist”.
In a press release launched at the moment Blackford stated "employees will need to have full confidence that the group takes complaints critically".
It comes after opposition events and SNP MP Joanna Cherry hit out on the get together over the way it handles claims of sexual misconduct.
Grady was suspended from the Commons for 2 days final week and made a public apology after a criticism of sexual harassment by a younger SNP staffer was upheld.
Blackford stated: "As SNP Westminster chief, I've an obligation of care to all of our employees. That's the reason I deeply remorse that a member of employees was topic to inappropriate behaviour.
"It was utterly unacceptable and may by no means have occurred. I'm sorry that it did.
"Workers will need to have full confidence that the group takes complaints critically. On this case, the Unbiased Complaints and Grievance Scheme investigated what occurred. We respect and settle for that unbiased course of.
"Greater than that, nevertheless, employees have a proper to really feel totally supported when a criticism is made. I remorse that the complainant doesn't really feel that that is the case.
"The best way that this example has performed out publicly over the previous few days, together with recordings from the parliamentary group, has induced misery to the complainant amongst others and I'm sorry that's the case.
"We'll contemplate all classes that should be discovered to ensure employees have full confidence they are going to obtain the assist they want.
"As such, I'm initiating an exterior evaluate of assist out there to employees, to sit down alongside the unbiased recommendation service and unbiased complaints course of.
"Elevating complaints of this nature isn't simple, and I'm decided that employees have the assist they want."
After the audio recording was leaked SNP MPs had been threatened with prison motion by their chief whip.
Owen Thompson summoned each MP who was on the group assembly to talk with him in individual on Tuesday and Wednesday as a part of a hunt for the leaker.
Comply with Peter Davidson on Twitter
Preserve updated with all the most recent tales from Peter Davidson.
Because the Stay Politics Editor on the Every day Report he covers politics in Holyrood, Westminster and native councils.
Give him a observe if you wish to hold updated with what is going on on within the political world.
To observe Peter, click on right here.
To enroll to the Every day Report Politics publication, click on right here.