Labour says the SNP have “serious questions to answer” after the former leader of North Lanarkshire council was found guilty.
John Swinney has been urged to “come clean” on claims complaints about convicted sex abuser Jordan Linden were ignored.
Linden, the former SNP of North Lanarkshire council, was convicted on Thursday of 10 separate offences after a trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court, including five sexual assaults.
His victims were five young men and boys aged 15 to 22.
During the trial, a councillor who made complaints about Linden said: “Everywhere I went for help in the SNP I was ignored or it was downplayed.”
The man said he contacted the police in 2023 because he “did not feel confident” the reports he had made to the SNP would be dealt with appropriately.
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “These are despicable crimes, and it is right that this vile individual is held fully responsible for his crimes.
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“However, there are also serious questions for the SNP to answer.
“During the trial, one of the men targeted by Linden said that when he went for help from the party, he was ‘ignored or it was downplayed’.
“John Swinney must come clean and explain why that was allowed to happen, and he must also set out what the SNP has done to root out this behaviour within his party.
“We have previously seen the SNP’s attempts to evade accountability when Derek Mackay was found to have groomed a teenager, and they tried to halt publication of the story.
“And we saw their willingness to allow Patrick Grady to return to the party fold at Westminster, despite having admitted to sexually harassing an SNP staff member.
“Enough is enough. John Swinney must make clear what he will do to end this sleazy and abhorrent conduct within his party and explain why the party has consistently chosen cover-up rather than telling the truth.”
Linden, 30, was also convicted of directing unwanted sexual communications towards seven teenagers, the youngest aged 14.
They included photos of himself in a bath and shots of his genitalia.
The offences took place over a 10-year period from 2011 until 2021.
The jury reached their verdict after less than four hours following a seven-day trial.
Linden rose to become North Lanarkshire council leader in 2022.
He resigned from the post a few weeks later when the allegations emerged and was arrested in 2024.
An SNP spokesperson said: “We hope today’s verdict brings some justice to those who have bravely come forward and shared their experiences – their courage in speaking out cannot be overstated.
“As proceedings remain ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”
Linden is due to be sentenced at Falkirk Sheriff Court on May 5.
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