SNP chief whip stands down while sexual harassment allegations investigated

THE SNP’s chief whip at Westminster has stepped aside after being accused of sexual harassment.

The party has confirmed that an investigation is underway. 

A staff member claims Patrick Grady put “his fingers down the back of my collar, touching me inappropriately there” at The Water Poet pub in London in 2016.

According to reports, a year later, one of the man’s colleagues then alerted the leadership to Grady’s behaviour.

The member of staff was then called to a meeting with Grady and SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, where the Glasgow North MP is reported to have apologised for his behaviour.

 The SNP has disputed his version of events. 

According to The Herald, a further complaint was made about Grady’s behaviour at the SNP’s Christmas party on December 15, 2016, at the Phoenix Artist Club, London.

Letters were sent to the office of the Speaker of the Commons in December 2017 and early 2018. These were then passed to the SNP’s compliance unit, in line with the party’s harassment policy.

An SNP spokesman said: “The SNP has today received a formal complaint. That allows due process to take place and we will not be commenting any further while an investigation is underway.”