SNP councillor reinstated after probe into Jordan Linden complaints

The leader of North Lanarkshire Council's SNP group has been readmitted to the party, after a probe into her handling of complaints about former council leader Jordan Linden.

Tracy Carragher had been accused of ignoring or downplaying complaints about Linden, who in May was jailed for sexually assaulting young men.

She was suspended by the SNP and dropped as a regional list candidate for Central Scotland and Lothians West in the Holyrood election.

North Lanarkshire SNP group said Carragher had been cleared by an independent advocate and barrister and it had "full confidence" in her return to the party.

It said the investigation concluded that Carragher did not cover up any complaint concerning Jordan Linden.

In a statement, the SNP group added: "Councillor Tracy Carragher's administrative suspension has been lifted with immediate effect.

"Councillor Carragher has had to endure serious public allegations which the independent investigation has not upheld.

"The group is deeply concerned that she has faced significant public, political and personal consequences as a result of those allegations."

The SNP said the suspension of her party membership had been lifted by its national secretary.

Carragher was the council's deputy leader when it was reported in 2022 that Linden had made unwanted advances towards a teenager three years earlier.

He stood down as leader after the allegations emerged and North Lanarkshire Council has been run by a minority Labour administration since.

Linden was jailed for 18 months after his conviction for sexually assaulting five young men, following a seven-day trial in March this year.

The 30-year-old was also found guilty of directing unwanted sexual communications towards seven teenagers, the youngest aged 14.

The offences took place over a 10-year period from 2011 until 2021.