Swinney’s Forced Apology to Linden’s Victims

Swinney’s Strained Apology Amidst SNP Predator Scandal

First Minister John Swinney has issued a public apology concerning the victims of former SNP councillor Jordan Linden, a man recently convicted of ten serious sexual offences. The apology, however, has been met with strong criticism from political opponents who deem it “pathetic and grovelling” and highlight that it comes years after complaints about Linden’s behaviour were reportedly ignored by the SNP. Swinney made the statement three days after Linden’s conviction and following direct questioning from media outlets.

The controversy has intensified as three men, who were abused by the 30-year-old former SNP leader, are now calling for a formal investigation into the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP). They have drawn stark comparisons between the organisation’s internal dynamics and the dystopian film “The Hunger Games,” a narrative where young people are forced into deadly combat.

In a statement, Mr. Swinney expressed his regret: “The first thing I want to say is I would apologise to anyone affected by the whole process and experience that has happened here. A lot of issues have come to light about Jordan Linden’s conduct.”

He further announced an “independent review” into the SNP’s handling of complaints, specifically examining its procedures from 2022. The aim, he stated, is to “ensure it is fit for purpose for the future” and to guarantee that “when it gets complaints it addresses them properly.” Mr. Swinney maintained that he had no prior knowledge of Linden’s alleged misconduct until it became public.

However, this explanation has been met with scepticism and outright dismissal from opposition parties.

Opposition Voices Slam Swinney’s Response

Meghan Gallacher of the Scottish Conservatives was particularly critical, stating: “John Swinney’s pathetic, grovelling apology has come far too late and will cut little ice with Jordan Linden’s victims, who were gaslit by the SNP in a desperate effort to protect the party’s reputations.” She questioned the credibility of Swinney’s claim of ignorance, suggesting it was difficult to believe “Honest John” was unaware, given the perceived “frantic efforts in SNP circles to cover it up.” Gallacher emphasised the need for Swinney’s promised review to genuinely gain the trust of Linden’s victims.

The Scottish Labour deputy leader, Jackie Baillie, urged Mr. Swinney to be more transparent, demanding he “come clean” about who within the SNP was responsible for the alleged “cover-up.” Baillie stated, “If he continues to refuse to do this there is only one conclusion to draw – John Swinney is not on the side of the victims of Jordan Linden’s sexual abuse, he is on the side of those who covered up for the abuser.”

A Decade of Ignored Warnings

Evidence has emerged suggesting that the SNP was first alerted to Linden’s behaviour as early as 2017. A concerned young SNP member, who was also a former member of the Scottish Youth Parliament, reportedly witnessed Linden’s predatory behaviour firsthand and communicated his concerns via email to the party.

This individual, who shared his correspondence with media outlets, expressed his strong reservations nearly a decade ago, writing that he was “concerned that Jordan Linden is not fit to represent the SNP as a political organisation.” He detailed issues within the SYP and urged the party to “look into these details and question Jordan Linden on his previous conduct.”

Despite these warnings, the party allegedly took no significant action. The situation resurfaced in August 2022, when details of an incident involving Linden attacking a young SNP member in Dundee in 2019 became public. The same concerned individual re-contacted the SNP, highlighting the gravity of the allegations. He wrote: “Given the various reports…in particular the 2019 incident…I believe it would be the best course of action to re-examine Linden’s status within the party. Specifically the recent allegation that Linden sexually assaulted an individual…should be enough to look at this case again.” These pleas, it appears, went unheeded, and Jordan Linden remained an SNP member until he resigned voluntarily in 2023.

When questioned about these specific warning emails, Mr. Swinney reiterated his lack of prior knowledge, stating he had “no knowledge of this until it came into the public domain.”

Whistleblower Claims Complicity

Further compounding the issue, a whistleblower councillor alleged he was subjected to assault and harassment by Linden at North Lanarkshire Council. This councillor accused the SNP of being “complicit” in concealing Linden’s alleged crimes.

Cameron McManus, who reported Linden to the police in 2023, asserted: “The SNP are complicit in this. They were warned, not only by me, but others, about Linden and they did nothing.” He dismissed the party’s announcement of a review into their processes as “an utter nonsense,” citing a similar review conducted years prior whose outcome was never publicly disclosed. McManus demanded clarity on the results of that past review and a clear explanation of how the current process would differ. He concluded by suggesting, “This is an attempt to ignore questions about Jordan before the election. It is completely unacceptable.”