IAN MP Blackford has issued an apology for the sexual harassment case of Patrick Grady after a meeting in the Commons with his group of MPs.
In an attempt to draw a line under the saga, the Westminster leader of the SNP said he deeply “regretted” that a member of the party’s staff was “subject to inappropriate behavior”.
The Westminster group in the SNP has been agitated since parliamentary authorities released their report on Mr Grady’s behavior with his divided MPs on how the crisis has been handled last Tuesday.
Over the weekend, the crisis deepened when a secret recording was leaked to Mr. Press. Blackford asking SNP MPs to support his disgraced colleague. In another twist, party leader Owen Thompson threatened who he had recorded and leaked the proceedings of the meeting with a criminal prosecution.
Mr Blackford’s apologies were issued tonight after a brief meeting with MPs and amid speculation that his handling of the situation had raised questions among the group as to whether he should continue in his leadership role. .
“As the leader of the SNP Westminster, I have a duty of care to all our staff. That is why I deeply regret that a staff member has been subjected to inappropriate behavior. It was completely unacceptable and should not be it never happened. I regret that it did, “he said.
“Staff must have full confidence that the group will take complaints seriously. In this case, the Independent Complaints and Complaints Scheme investigated what happened. We respect and accept this independent process.”
He added: “More than that, however, staff have a right to feel fully supported when a complaint is lodged. I regret that the complainant does not consider this to be the case.
“The way this situation has been publicly expressed in recent days, including the recordings of the parliamentary group, has caused anguish to the complainant, among others, and I am sorry that this is the case.
“We will take into account all the lessons that need to be learned to ensure that staff have full confidence that they will receive the support they need. As such, I am initiating an external review of the support available to staff, to sit on independent counseling service and independent complaints process.
“Complaints of this nature have never been easy, and I am determined that staff will have the support they need.”
Blackford will appear in public for the first time tomorrow since the secret recording emerged when he asked Boris Johnson questions from the Prime Minister.
It is unclear whether his apology will be enough to stop speculation about his leadership of the Westminster group from the SNP.
Tonight, Scottish Conservatives again called for Blackford to withdraw.
Party chairman Craig Hoy MSP said: “It’s amazing that Ian Blackford has taken so long to realize that he should apologize.
“The Westminster SNP leader has shown appalling judgment and now only apologizes in a desperate attempt to save his own skin.
“His credibility is shattered and he has to go, so that no victim will ever fall atrociously again.”
Last night, an SNP MP issued a lengthy written statement and apologized after he had previously accepted Mr Blackford after urging his colleagues to “meet” with Mr Blackford. Grady. And before yesterday another SNP MP criticized the party’s complaints and disciplinary proceedings.
The head of the Westminster SNP confronted his MPs at 6pm in Room 21 of the House of Commons with the apology issued by Mr. Blackford through the party’s press office at 6:39 p.m.
A privileged person had told the Herald earlier this morning, “The mood has been unpleasant for months, really years. It’s a vicious environment.”
The victim of Mr Grady, a 19-year-old SNP staff member at the time of the 2016 incident, yesterday raised the possibility of legal action against the party.
He said last week that he had received no support and that members of the Westminster group had left him isolated.
At the same meeting, which took place last week, SNP MP Amy Callaghan and her colleague Marion Fellows also put their weight behind Mr Grady.
Ms Callaghan told the group: “I think we should unite for this campaign, but also, regardless of our position on Patrick’s situation, we should gather around him to support him as well. at this moment.
“I don’t think we’re very good as a party to support each other and I think we should make sure he feels supported right now, so if we can all contact him, or do it if you feel able “A, we probably should.”
In a statement posted on Twitter yesterday afternoon, he apologized.
“This can only and should begin with a heartfelt apology to anyone, especially the survivors of the harassment, who has been injured or provoked as a result of this week,” he wrote.
“While I can’t forgive myself for not being able to approach my contribution in this way, I owe an explanation to everyone, especially the survivors and my constituents:
“I am just sorry and ultimately take full responsibility for my words, which are as insensitive, misspelled and out of place as they were.
“I am taking full responsibility for the pain and disappointment I have caused, especially for people directly affected by sexual misconduct in this case.
“Survivors should be supported. I should have preceded my comments and reiterated this throughout my contribution. I believed I was in a situation where my support for survivors was involved.
“I was wrong. That’s not good enough. My comments without this context absolutely justify the discomfort they have caused. I’m really sorry.
“As a party, we are clearly short on supporting whistleblowers.”
Mr Blackford is heard saying in the leaked recording: “I think most of you know how I feel about Patrick and I would encourage the group to offer as much support as possible.
“And we look forward to next week, facing a number of short-term challenges and with our full support. And I’m really looking forward to welcoming Patrick back to the group next week. ”
SNP MP Joanna Cherry criticized the party’s complaints system yesterday. The intervention of the party’s former justice and home affairs spokesperson came after members of the group were threatened with prosecution for their main whip for recording and leaking the meeting.
“I was not at the SNP Westminster group meeting last week. I do not notice the covert recording or leaking. However, the SNP has long had major issues with how it handles complaints,” he tweeted.
“My party needs to reflect on the contrast between the treatment of the various ‘criminals’ and review our arrangements for the pastoral care of whistleblowers.”
In his report, Parliament’s watchdog, the Panel of Independent Experts, said Mr Grady had “sexually assaulted the complainant” which was “clearly sexual in intent and manner, and clearly inappropriate”.
He has apologized to the Commons for his behavior and has been suspended by parliamentary authorities for two days. The SNP has whipped him out of the party during the same period.