SNP sacks candidate after Jordan Linden pressure

The SNP has sacked its group leader on North Lanarkshire Council as a candidate over her handling of allegations made against Jordan Linden.

Tracy Carragher was on the SNP regional list for Central Scotland and Lothians West, but on Wednesday she was removed from both positions and her membership suspended, the party said.

Ms Carragher was called as a witness during the trial of Jordan Linden – the former North Lanarkshire Council leader who last week was convicted of 10 offences, including five sexual assaults.

Recordings later released of Ms Carragher during a group meeting around the time allegations against Linden were made added further pressure for her to be sacked.

A statement from an SNP spokesperson said: “In light of ongoing allegations regarding the handling of matters within the North Lanarkshire Council SNP group in relation to Jordan Linden, the national secretary has suspended councillor Carragher pending an investigation.

“This means she will no longer be an SNP candidate in the forthcoming elections or leader of the SNP Group on the council.

“We take this issue seriously and the voices of complainants must always be heard.”

The decision comes after sustained pressure on the party to sack Ms Carragher, or for her to stand down.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said SNP leader John Swinney had been “dragged kicking and screaming” into suspending Ms Carragher.

“John Swinney cannot hide from the long list of unanswered questions that still remain for him and his party,” she said.

“The SNP’s handling of this scandal has been shameful from start to finish – from dismissing victims to lying to journalists to defending Tracy Carragher for days.

“It is always party before country with John Swinney and the SNP and Scotland deserves better.

Scottish Tory candidate for Uddingston and Bellshill, Meghan Gallacher, said the decision should “never have taken John Swinney so long to reach”.

“His dithering over the past week has been an insult to this vile predator’s victims, who have been appalled that someone who stood by Linden was deemed appropriate to stand for parliament by the SNP,” she added.

“Only at the eleventh hour before candidate nominations close and he was given even more information has John Swinney finally acted.

“But he was already aware of the damning secret recordings that proved Tracy Carragher was at pains to protect Jordan Linden and railed against anyone raising concerns about him.

“Ditching Tracy Carragher isn’t the end of the matter for John Swinney. This whole case smacks of SNP cover-up and secrecy.

“They wanted to protect their party rather than act on victims’ concerns.”