Nicola Sturgeon has finally publicly apologised to the SNP staff member subjected to sexual harassment by Patrick Grady.
At First Minister’s Questions, Douglas Ross challenged her over the handling of the scandal and the leaked recording of SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford urging his MPs to back Grady.
It came after the victim said on Good Morning Scotland today that Grady and Blackford tried to take “advantage of me being young and inexperienced” and did the “bare minimum of investigation”.
He described his life, as result of this ordeal, as “torture” and “a living hell”.
He added that the SNP are “punishing any victim of this sort of behaviour and punishing anyone that’s come forward with a similar complaint as mine”.
The victim rejected Blackford’s “cop out” apology, calling it a “publicity stunt”, adding that he only apologised “to protect his position”.
The victim said it “seems like the SNP under Ian Blackford in Westminster hasn’t learned a thing, and they're still trying to close ranks and discredit the victim by not really addressing any of the issues”.
He added that “nobody can really seriously believe they’re going to make improvements to the procedure, as long as Ian Blackford’s still in post”.
Following those remarks, Douglas Ross said Blackford must resign or be sacked.
At FMQs, Nicola Sturgeon said she had written to the victim to say sorry on behalf of her party. But she did not comment on Ian Blackford’s position, despite admitting it was “completely unacceptable” that more concern was shown for the perpetrator than the victim.
She also sought to bring other parties into the controversy by saying that sexual misconduct was not a problem limited to SNP politicians.
In response, Douglas Ross said “no lessons have been learned” by the SNP, despite previous promises from Nicola Sturgeon that “anyone who considers in the future that they have suffered sexual harassment has the confidence to come forward and knows that their concerns will be listened to and addressed”.
Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross said: “This victim has been badly let down every single step of the way by the SNP.
“The handling of this whole sorry affair has been a disgrace from start to finish and has been ongoing for years. Patrick Grady’s behaviour was covered up and the SNP have put more focus on party discipline than supporting a victim.
“The disgusting actions of the SNP Westminster Leader have made it less likely that any victims come forward in the future. No wonder the victim has rejected the feeble, hollow apology that Ian Blackford gave after days of silence.
“Ian Blackford must go, so that a clear message is sent that sexual harassment will not be tolerated, and any victims who come forward will be believed and supported.
“But this is also bigger than just one man.This is a deep, systemic problem in the governing party. It is an all too familiar tale for victims within the SNP.
“The cover-up, close-ranks culture is wrong.
“Nicola Sturgeon’s attempts at deflecting the problem were pathetic. She has to take responsibility and intervene. It’s time that she finally acted to prevent sexual harassment in her party.
“The shocking handling of this latest sexual harassment scandal shows that no lessons have been learned by the SNP. Nicola Sturgeon has broken promises that she made just a year ago.
“Her apology isn’t enough. If she accepts the handling of this affair was unacceptable, how can Ian Blackford remain in post?
“How many more times are victims going to be failed before the SNP finally stamp out appalling behaviour like this in their ranks?"
Notes
Nicola Sturgeon said last year: “It will be a priority for me, for as long as I am First Minister, to ensure that lessons are learned and that trust is re-established so that anyone who considers in the future that they have suffered sexual harassment has the confidence to come forward and knows that their concerns will be listened to and addressed.” (Official Report, 23 March 2021, link).