Victims of the convicted former council leader Jordan Linden have said they felt disbelieved, were called liars, and were ultimately “pushed out of politics”, alleging his predatory behaviour could have been stopped years earlier. Their stark testimony, given after Linden’s conviction for a series of sexual offences, has forced a moment of reckoning for the SNP, which is now facing severe criticism over its handling of complaints and the culture within its ranks.
One victim, speaking anonymously to STV News, stated bluntly: “He was enabled, and I hope in time we find out why.” Their account follows the conviction of Jordan Linden, the former leader of North Lanarkshire Council and a past chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP), at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Thursday, 26 March 2026. Linden was found guilty of 10 offences, including five sexual assaults, stalking, coercive behaviour, and sexual communication offences. The crimes took place between 2011 and 2021, with victims aged between 14 and 22 at the time. He is due to be sentenced on 5 May 2026.
Reflection and Response
In the wake of the conviction, former SNP leader Humza Yousaf said the party must “reflect on any complaints that have been made, any criticisms from those who have been victims of inappropriate behaviour”. In a BBC interview recorded before the SNP’s latest announcement, Yousaf pointed to changes made following the #MeToo movement, which globally increased scrutiny on sexual harassment and assault. He cited the introduction of an independent legal adviser for complainants who might not feel comfortable speaking directly to the party. “Obviously, these allegations and these complaints… they’re criminal, so rightly complaints are made to the police,” he added.
However, the party’s internal mechanisms are now under intense independent review, announced by the SNP on Friday, 27 March. First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney has apologised to Linden’s victims, telling the Press Association: “The first thing I want to say is that for anybody who has suffered as a consequence of the behaviour of Jordan Linden, I’m very, very sorry for what they have experienced.”
A System Under Scrutiny
The decision to launch an independent review follows years of alleged failures. Critics argue the SNP’s complaints procedures, despite being reviewed since 2016, were not fit for purpose. Scottish Conservative candidate Meghan Gallacher labelled the review “long-overdue” and “tantamount to an admission by John Swinney that the SNP’s safeguarding and complaints procedure is not fit for purpose.”
Specific allegations suggest a pattern of complaints being downplayed and complainants sidelined. A letter sent to John Swinney in September 2025, by former SNP councillor Greg Lennon on behalf of affected colleagues, urged a probe into the complaints procedure and reportedly went unanswered. That letter claimed eight SNP councillors had raised safeguarding concerns about Linden in 2022, only to face suspension, exclusion, bullying, and harassment, which led them to leave the party altogether.
This timeline aligns with Linden’s political descent. He became an SNP councillor in 2017 and rose to lead North Lanarkshire Council in May 2022, resigning from that leadership in July 2022 after allegations emerged. He left the SNP in March 2023, and was arrested and charged by Police Scotland in February 2024.
Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie accused the SNP of fostering a “culture of routinely covering up sexual crimes” and described Swinney’s previous silence as “reprehensible.” She demanded the First Minister hold a televised press conference to provide “complete transparency about why the SNP, for years, sought to cover up and gaslight victims”.
The Scottish Youth Parliament, where Linden served as chair between 2015 and 2016, condemned his actions as “reprehensible” and “diametrically opposed to the values and ethos” of the organisation. During his trial, Linden admitted to some behaviour—including climbing into the bunk of an 18-year-old at a political event in Barcelona and following another 18-year-old into a locked bathroom—but claimed his conduct was due to being “young…naive and silly.”
In a statement, an SNP spokesman said the independent review instructed by Swinney would “ensure people are protected and our complaints procedures are as robust as they can be.” The party also welcomed the verdict and commended the bravery of those who came forward to police. Detective Chief Inspector Diane Barr of Police Scotland also thanked the victims for their bravery, emphasising that the force will always investigate reports of sexual offending.
As the party grapples with the fallout, the case has exposed profound questions about accountability and victim support within political structures, with the promised review representing a critical test for its leadership. Linden awaits his sentencing next month.
