The SNP was warned simply months after former North Lanarkshire Council chief Jordan Linden grew to become a councillor that he was “not match” to symbolize the social gathering - and 5 younger males have got here ahead to say they have been groomed, harassed or assaulted by Linden.
A celebration member involved about Linden's rise via the ranks contacted SNP bosses to inform them of a litany of sexual harassment and sexual assault claims from a number of alleged victims.
An investigation by Lanarkshire Stay's sister paper the Sunday Mail has revealed that these claims included:
● SENDING express footage to a 14-year-old boy.
● ASSAULTING an adolescent after the pair needed to share a resort room.
● GROOMING of younger males.
● MESSAGING to apologise for sending inappropriate messages and nude photographs.
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The warning was emailed to SNP bosses in November 2017, 5 months after Linden, who hoped to change into an MP, grew to become an elected official in North Lanarkshire.
It learn: “Jordan Linden just isn't match to symbolize the SNP as a political organisation. I hope you do look into these particulars and query him on his earlier conduct.”
Linden, 27, grew to become chief of the council in Could this yr, however, as Lanarkshire Stay reported final week, he was pressured to resign following accusations by an adolescent that Linden had groped and sexually assaulted him at a celebration after Homosexual Pleasure in Dundee on September 21, 2019.
And now 5 males, who have been all members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) or had hyperlinks with the organisation’s initiatives, declare they have been let down in 2016 when allegations emerged about Linden's conduct whereas chairman.
One of many alleged victims was simply 14 when he claims Linden despatched him semi-nude photographs and sexual messages.
One other man, 17 on the time, claims to have been sexually assaulted whereas at an in a single day SYP occasion after being booked right into a room with Linden containing a double mattress.
In 2016 the SYP launched an inner investigation when allegations about Linden’s conduct have been reported to the chief government Ben McKendrick.
Regardless of the claims involving sexual harassment of youngsters, a non-public legislation agency was contracted to research relatively than police.
McKendrick and the SYP later dismissed the allegations as “false” and stated Linden had “no case to reply”, whereas Linden described those that had made the claims as “liars”.
McKendrick stays because the SYP boss, and in 2019 was made a non-executive director of the Scottish Authorities.
Jack O’Hara, an occasions employee, joined the SYP in March 2015 and was amongst those that informed attorneys he had been despatched unsolicited photographs by Linden when he was simply 14.
He claimed investigators have been extra centered on accusing him of wrongdoing than coping with the allegations about Linden.
The 21-year-old historical past pupil from Edinburgh stated: “There have been lots of people within the youth parliament who got here from possibly damaged houses, troublesome backgrounds, had been bullied or simply didn’t have a whole lot of pals in school.
“I used to be pals with Jordan for a time, however he was all the time pushing his luck and flirting.
“It could make me really feel uncomfortable since you’d get Snapchats within the tub from him, or pictures of him getting dressed.
“He was absolutely an grownup and I used to be 14.”
Jack stated the flirtatious messages continued “getting extra sexual” and it was clear he had a “sexual curiosity” which was not reciprocated.”
SYP members, who're non-party political and aged 14 to 25, collect 3 times a yr at totally different places, with travelling attendees put up in lodges close by to attend the sittings.
At a gathering in Renfrewshire in June 2015, Jack claimed Linden got here into his room and “began poking me and making an attempt to tickle me.”
He stated: “I used to be saying ‘Get off, cease it’ and he stored saying ‘What you gonna do, what you gonna do?'
“He was this heavy-set man and was backing me right into a nook, type of daring me to try to get away from him. I can’t say it was an assault but it surely was undesirable and creepy, and I used to be a baby.”
Through the SYP investigation, Jack was accused of breaking the youth parliament’s pointers.
Jack stated: “I informed them I had been despatched photographs by Jordan and in regards to the type of messages he would ship.
“I later bought an e-mail saying that I had breached the organisation’s guidelines by sharing a picture, and there was speak about ‘revenge porn’ costs.
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“I used to be criticised for my response to abuse by somebody who was basically grooming me – he was making an attempt to begin a sexual or intimate relationship whereas he was able of energy, and I used to be a baby.”
Jack’s mum Allison confirmed she had been current when her son disclosed to investigators he had acquired the photographs and sexually express messages, and was angered to study the claims had been described as “false” by McKendrick.
She stated: “I felt let down and really feel that different younger individuals who have been involved with Jordan weren't protected.”
In Could 2016 Linden resigned as SYP chairman, with members informed he wished to deal with his research. In late 2017, the police have been requested to have a look at the claims made towards Linden, nonetheless officers have been unable to search out proof of criminality and closed the investigation.
A number of males who have been interviewed by the police stated they'd been informed the probe was dropped as there was not sufficient proof.
It's claimed that Linden used Snapchat to ship lewd photographs to younger individuals, with the app deleting any messages after a brief time frame.
Not one of the alleged victims might produce the pictures as they'd already disappeared.
They declare Linden was apologising for sending sexually express pictures.
One man, who didn't wish to be named, stated: “I used to be inundated, he would attempt to contact and cuddle me.
“I simply pushed him apart, however because it continued I reported his behaviour to youth staff, and stated I didn’t wish to share a room with him on in a single day journeys.
Police Scotland wouldn't verify whether or not it did cross this data to the SYP, however re-issued its assertion from 2017, saying: “Various individuals have been spoken to and enquiries have now concluded with no criminality established.”
Ben McKendrick didn't reply after we requested him why he described the claims as false, or why he didn't instantly go to the police.
A spokesman for the SYP didn't reply the Sunday Mail's particular questions, however stated: “SYP needs to make it clear that every one allegations of harassment or inappropriate behaviour of any sort are taken very critically, investigated completely, and the suitable motion taken consistent with our insurance policies and nationwide youngster safety steering.
“The place deemed acceptable, and consistent with these insurance policies, related data could be handed on to exterior authorities such because the police or social providers.”
Once we put the allegations to Jordan Linden, he stated he was beforehand investigated and added: “Clearly somebody – for their very own agenda - needs to revisit a problem that has been absolutely investigated and concluded.
“As I stated the opposite day, I simply ask that I be allowed the area to deal with recovering my psychological and bodily well being.”
Linden resigned as council chief on Wednesday after admitting wrongdoing, however stated he intends to stay as an SNP councillor.
He stated: “Though I've by no means approached any private interplay with in poor health intent, I settle for that my behaviour at that social gathering in 2019 prompted a way of discomfort which I fully remorse.”
Linden's predecessor as chief of North Lanarkshire Council, North Lanarkshire Labour councillor Jim Logue, demanded the SNP hierarchy come clear on who knew what and when in regards to the accusations towards Linden.
He stated: “Based mostly on these new allegations, I'm of a view that Councillor Linden is unfit to carry any public workplace and will critically query his present place as a councillor.
“For the reason that election in Could 2022 the SNP in North Lanarkshire have presided over three months of an entire absence of political management, with no committees assembly or any articulation of any insurance policies or service developments.
“The questions for the SNP regionally and nationally are: Who knew what about his presenting behaviours? Why was Councillor Linden authorized as a councillor? And moreover why was he elected because the Chief of the Council?
“We now have an administration which is incapable of offering the required management which North Lanarkshire expects or requires.”
An SNP spokeswoman stated: “We have been conscious that the Scottish Youth Parliament had requested Police Scotland to research allegations that would have included people who have been members of the Scottish Nationwide Social gathering.
"We perceive Police Scotland concluded that no motion was required.
“The SNP takes all complaints critically. If one other organisation upheld a criticism towards an SNP member, we'd have needed to contemplate if it had any impression on that particular person’s membership standing however our understanding is that no complaints have been ever established.”
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