SNP’s ‘Sex Pest’ MP Patrick Grady has quit his party following a probe into allegations of sexual harassment.
Nicola Sturgeon’s party stated that Mr Grady won’t be an SNP MP in Glasgow North anymore and would now stand as an independent.
Metropolitan Police confirms that they are investigating an incident at London’s pub in 2016.
Two days ago, after being accused of inappropriate behavior towards SNP male staff members, Mr Grady was removed from Westminster.
Former chief whip for the SNP, Grady, had an inappropriate sexual encounter with a male staff member aged 19. A Glasgow North MP (now 42) was discovered to have stroked and touched the neck and hair of the young man at the pub in London six years ago.
The Westminster Watchdog found him guilty after an extensive investigation. He said he is deeply sorry for the’significant breaches’ to Parliament’s Sexual Misconduct Policy.
Following criticisms about the handling of the complaint by the SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, Ian Blackford asked Mr Grady for his opinion.
After Mr Blackford had been heard telling SNP MPs, in a leaked recording, to support Mr Grady and tell them to get behind him. He said he was looking forward to welcoming Patrick back after his two-day suspension.
Patrick Grady, PMQs Parliament House in London, on January 29, 2020
Picture of Mr Grady and Nicola Sturgeon during the election night, December 2019.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Amy Callaghan MP apologised after Ian Blackford was heard in a leaked recording to tell SNP MPs to rally round Mr Grady
Craig Hoy, MSP for Scottish Conservatives, said that Patrick Grady ought to have been fired long before now. However the SNP has shown it is a complete lack of backbone and will support the victim over the perpetrator.
‘The abuser is dead, but the poison still remains in the SNP. Party leadership ought to be ashamed at how they dealt with this scandal.
Nicola Sturgeon, Ian Blackford and the victims of sexual harassment are being treated with greater sympathy by them than one another.
“Bullying Blackford should now face the consequences he deserves, and be fired so that victims can have faith in their future.
Metropolitan Police spokesmen confirmed that inquiries are continuing.
He stated that police were notified by Wednesday’s June 22 of an allegation regarding sexual assault at Folgate Street.
“The online report was sent by third parties. The report was submitted online by a third party. Officers are now going to investigate and will contact the victim in an effort to determine what additional action may be required.
A spokesperson for the SNP stated that Patrick Grady would be leaving his party membership as police inquiries continue.
The SNP of Ms Sturgeon is in an angry political and legal dispute over the attempts to unite around the MP, sex-pest.
Following a leaked audio recording, which showed Mr Blackford urging former chief whip party members to vote for him, the party leader in Westminster has been forced to resign.
Instead, the SNP threatened to sue its MPs for leaking the tape to The Daily Mail. This was after Mr Blackford had promised Mr Grady that he would not tolerate abuse.
Unwanted sexual advances were made by Mr Grady towards a male staff member aged 19. A Glasgow North MP (now 42) was found to have touched the neck, hair, and back of the teenage boy at a pub in London six years ago. A Westminster watchdog found him guilty of violating the Parliament’s policy on sexual misconduct.
Amy Callaghan was the East Dunbartonshire MP and she admitted that she had been deeply reflective as she offered a sincere apology
Amy Callaghan was the East Dunbartonshire MP and she admitted she had been deeply reflective as she offered a sincere apology.
The Daily Mail obtained the audio recording of Ms Callaghan speaking to a group of SNP MPs. She said: “Regardless of what our positions are on Patrick’s current situation, we need to rally together and support him during this difficult time.”
Blackford can also be heard asking MPs for support to Mr Grady.
“He will face many challenges in the short-term and should be supported by us,” he stated. I for one look forward to Patrick returning to the group next week. Everybody here will be able to agree.
Previous promises made by Mr Blackford to Mr Grady were that he would have ‘zero tolerance for abuse’.
It was revealed that the SNP had threatened its own MPs to bring legal action against them for the leaked tape.
The Times reports that Owen Thompson, current chief whip of SNP, told MPs late at night via email that security personnel had been informed about the leak after a private meeting.
As the political crisis surrounding Mr Grady continues to envelop the party, opposition parties demanded Mr Blackford resign or be fired by Nicola Sturgeon, the leader of the SNP.
Neil Bibby of Scottish Labour said, “The only investigation that the SNP should open is into their failures to safeguard staff in this tawdry situation.” The fact that one of the SNP’s MPs admitted to using his position for sexual advantage against a staffer is shocking, and they applauded it was a good thing.
The SNP has behaved disgracefully from the very beginning – closing ranks, intimidating anyone who attempted to tell this story. The SNP has serious concerns about Patrick Grady’s treatment based on his proximity to the SNP establishment.
John Lamont (Scottish Tory MP) added, “Ian Blackford must speak up and tell us why he is not taking any steps to stop sexual harassment at the SNP Westminster Group.”
“Instead acting as requested over a year back, he has treated an inept MP with more sympathy then the victim of harassment.