SNP candidate dropped over handling of Jordan Linden complaints

An SNP candidate for the Holyrood election has been dropped by the party over her handling of the sexual assault allegations against former North Lanarkshire Council leader Jordan Linden.

There had been calls for Tracy Carragher, who is the leader of the SNP group at North Lanarkshire Council, to stand down as a candidate on the Central Scotland and Lothians West regional list.

She has now been suspended by the SNP and dropped as a candidate. 

The SNP councillor has been accused of ignoring or downplaying complaints about Linden in a council motion.  

It comes after Linden was convicted of 10 charges, including sexually assaulting three men and sending sexual messages to boys as young as 14.

The motion, which calls for Carragher to resign immediately, along with her colleague Fiona Fotheringham, is scheduled to be debated tomorrow. The council will also vote on whether to suspend activity with the Scottish Youth Parliament, which Linden was a part of between 2011 and 2016, and served as its chairman for a period.  

Carragher served as deputy leader of the council in 2022. A few days after allegations that Linden had made unwanted advances to a teenager three years before, the SNP group in North Lanarkshire held an emergency meeting.  

In a recording, she appears to suggest that those who had spoken to journalists about their concerns over Linden’s conduct had done it for “personal gain”.  

Carragher also appears to say that the SNP had told Linden “not to comment”, and that the party “decide what happens”.  

Former SNP councillor Cameron McManus said he confided in Carragher after complaining about Linden but alleges she didn’t take action and says she is unfit for office.  

Last week, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said Carragher should “reflect” on her candidacy.  

Speaking to the BBC on Monday, SNP leader John Swinney said in response to whether she should remain a candidate, he said the party had “selected our candidates and our candidates are in place”.

At the weekend, he said he was “very sorry” to the people affected by Linden and announced an independent review of the SNP’s complaints process.  

Carragher has been placed seventh on the regional list, making it highly unlikely she will be elected in May. The nomination deadline for candidates is 4pm today.

Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “John Swinney has been dragged kicking and screaming into suspending Tracy Carragher – but only after days of defending the indefensible.

“The SNP’s handling of this scandal has been shameful from start to finish – from dismissing victims to lying to journalists to defending Tracy Carragher for days.”

Holyrood has contacted Carragher for comment.