JOHN Swinney has apologised to the victims of former council leader Jordan Linden as he insisted the SNP has “an effective process in place” for scrutinising abusive behaviour.
He made the comments on Saturday, the day after the SNP announced an independent review into its complaint handling procedures, in the wake of Linden’s conviction for sex and stalking offences.
Linden – the former leader of North Lanarkshire Council – was convicted of 10 separate offences on Thursday following a trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court, including five sexual assaults.
Speaking to STV News on Friday, one anonymous victim said Linden’s actions “could have been stopped earlier”, adding that victims “weren’t believed, we were called liars, we were pushed out of politics”.
They said: “He was enabled, and I hope in time we find out why.”
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In an interview with the Press Association on Saturday, following an independence rally which saw thousands march through the capital, Swinney began by issuing an apology to Linden’s victims.
“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,” he said.
He continued: “I want to make sure the SNP has the strongest possible complaints handling process in place in all circumstances.
“This process was reviewed in 2022 but I want to, in the light of the trial that (has been) completed, make sure that some independent scrutiny is applied to that complaints handling process so that we have the strongest arrangements in place.”
“What I would say is that the SNP has an effective process in place to scrutinise any poor behaviour, any abusive behaviour, and we will review that to make sure that it is appropriate for all the circumstances that we may face.”
He was also asked about the reaction of one of Linden’s fellow councillors, Tracy Carragher – the current leader of the SNP group on the council – to Linden’s resignation.
A covert recording of an SNP group meeting, published in the Sunday Mail in 2023, appears to show Carragher’s immediate concern had been to “show that we are functioning” in order to deflect attacks by Labour.
Asked whether this was the correct response when allegations like this surface, Swinney said: “It’s appropriate in all circumstances that we listen to the account and the experience of victims and that that’s acted upon.
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“That’s what I put at the heart of all of the judgments that we make, and that’s exactly what we’ll do in the future.”
He also said he would be “very happy” to meet with Linden’s victims.
On Friday, Carragher – who is seventh on the party’s list for the Central Scotland and West Lothians region in May’s Holyrood election – said she welcomed Linden’s guilty verdict.
“It should send a message that even when victims do not go to the police straight away, justice can still be done,” she said.
“My thoughts are with the victims in this case, and I truly hope that this verdict will bring them some closure.”
In a statement released on Friday, Detective Chief Inspector Diane Barr, the senior investigating officer, said: “This was a protracted investigation which involved speaking with a broad range of people, many of whom regarded Linden as being in a position of trust.
“He abused this position to befriend young males who were seeking his support and the opportunity to learn from his work. However, his conduct toward them was far from professional.
“I’d like to thank the victims who came forward to report their experiences to police. Their testimony and support ensured that we were able to bring Linden before the courts.
“No-one should be subjected to sexual offending, and we will always investigate reports, regardless of when they occurred or who the perpetrator is.”
Linden will be sentenced on May 5.
Facts Only
Jordan Linden, former leader of North Lanarkshire Council, was convicted of 10 offences, including five sexual assaults, at Falkirk Sheriff Court.
The SNP announced an independent review of its complaint handling procedures following Linden’s conviction.
John Swinney, SNP leader, apologised to Linden’s victims and stated the party would review its complaints process.
An anonymous victim claimed Linden’s behaviour "could have been stopped earlier" and criticised the political response.
Tracy Carragher, current SNP group leader on North Lanarkshire Council, welcomed Linden’s guilty verdict.
A 2023 recording of an SNP group meeting suggested Carragher’s initial concern was political damage control.
Detective Chief Inspector Diane Barr confirmed the investigation involved multiple victims who trusted Linden.
Linden will be sentenced on May 5.
Executive Summary
Full Take
The strongest version of this narrative highlights systemic failures in political accountability and the courage of victims in seeking justice. Swinney’s apology and the SNP’s review suggest institutional introspection, though the anonymous victim’s claim that Linden was "enabled" raises questions about prior awareness and inaction. The 2023 recording of Carragher’s response—prioritising political optics over victim support—underscores a tension between institutional self-preservation and ethical responsibility. The police statement reinforces the pattern of predators exploiting positions of trust, a recurring theme in abuse cases.
Patterns detected: ARC-0024 Ambiguity (Swinney’s claim of an "effective process" despite victim testimonies suggesting otherwise), ARC-0043 Motte-and-Bailey (SNP’s dual stance of condemning abuse while allegedly enabling it).
Root cause: The narrative reflects a broader paradigm where institutions prioritise reputation management over victim-centred justice. The assumption that internal reviews alone suffice ignores deeper cultural issues in political power structures.
Implications: Victims bear the cost of delayed justice, while institutions risk losing credibility if reforms are performative. Second-order consequences may include eroded trust in political parties’ ability to self-regulate.
Bridge questions: How might the SNP’s review address the disconnect between policy and practice? What structural changes could prevent future enabling of abusers in politics?
Counterstrike scan: A coordinated influence campaign might weaponise this story to discredit the SNP broadly, framing it as systemic corruption. However, the article’s focus on specific failures and victim testimonies does not align with a blanket attack, suggesting genuine reporting rather than manipulation.