Background to the Jordan Linden case

Jordan Linden, a former leader of North Lanarkshire Council, faced a court trial last month that resulted in a conviction on five counts of sexual assault against young men. The conviction also included additional offences involving the transmission of unwanted sexual communications to teenagers over a period spanning from 2011 to 2021.

Jordan Linden, age 30 at the time of sentencing, had a long‑standing involvement with the Scottish National Party's youth structures. Jordan Linden first entered the Scottish National Party's youth wing and, in 2015, was elected chairman of the Scottish Youth Parliament. Jordan Linden stepped down from the chairmanship in 2016 after explicit images of Jordan Linden began circulating among members of the Scottish Youth Parliament.

The legal proceedings against Jordan Linden culminated in ten charges, five of which were sexual assault convictions. The remaining charges related to the sending of unsolicited sexual material to teenagers. The court verdict was handed down following a trial that examined evidence covering a decade of alleged conduct.

Early complaints and the role of the Scottish Youth Parliament

Amy Lee Fraioli, who served on the Scottish Youth Parliament board in 2016, disclosed that the Scottish Youth Parliament received multiple reports in that year concerning members receiving sexual images that were allegedly linked to Jordan Linden. In response to those reports, the Scottish Youth Parliament engaged an independent private law firm to investigate the allegations.

According to Amy Lee Fraioli, the Scottish Youth Parliament’s chief executive at the time, Ben McKendrick, conveyed the existence of the investigation to Peter Murrell. Amy Lee Fraioli explained that Ben McKendrick “went up and he spoke to Peter Murrell, he informed him of the investigation and the fact that it was taking place at that time in 2016.” The statement was first reported by the Mail on Sunday.

The investigative law firm concluded that there was no evidence of wrongdoing by Jordan Linden during that initial inquiry. Consequently, in 2017 Jordan Linden was elected as a councillor for North Lanarkshire. Five years later, Jordan Linden ascended to the position of council leader, a role that Jordan Linden relinquished after two months when further allegations of sexual harassment surfaced.

Reactions from the SNP and the independent review

Following Jordan Linden’s conviction, SNP leader John Swinney issued a public apology to the victims and announced that an independent review of the SNP’s complaints procedures would be commissioned. John Swinney emphasized that the review would aim to safeguard individuals and ensure the robustness of the SNP’s mechanisms for handling complaints.

An SNP spokesperson declined to comment directly on Amy Lee Fraioli’s specific assertions. The spokesperson reiterated that the SNP has conducted a “comprehensive review of complaints procedures since 2016.” The spokesperson further noted that, in light of the Jordan Linden case, John Swinney has instructed an independent review to be undertaken to guarantee that the SNP’s procedures are as protective and effective as possible.

The SNP spokesperson also expressed support for the court’s verdict against Jordan Linden, stating that the SNP “welcomes the verdict against Mr Linden and commends the bravery of the individuals who came forward and shared their experiences with the police.”

Amy Lee Fraioli’s involvement with the Scottish Youth Parliament

Amy Lee Fraioli, now aged 27, first became involved with the Scottish Youth Parliament as a teenager. Amy Lee Fraioli progressed within the organization and was elected chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament in 2017. Amy Lee Fraioli’s testimony regarding the 2016 briefing to Peter Murrell adds a new dimension to the public understanding of how early concerns about Jordan Linden were handled within the broader SNP network.

Throughout the period from 2016 to the present, Amy Lee Fraioli has maintained that the Scottish Youth Parliament acted in good faith by commissioning an independent investigation and that the findings of that investigation were communicated to senior SNP officials, including Peter Murrell.

Implications for future SNP complaint handling

The revelations provided by Amy Lee Fraioli, coupled with the recent conviction of Jordan Linden, have intensified scrutiny of the SNP’s internal processes for dealing with allegations of sexual misconduct. The independent review ordered by John Swinney is expected to examine historical handling of complaints, assess the adequacy of investigative protocols, and propose reforms that will strengthen protections for victims and improve transparency.

Stakeholders within the Scottish political landscape, including members of the Scottish National Party, observers of youth political engagement, and advocacy groups focused on safeguarding, are closely monitoring the outcomes of the independent review. The review’s findings may influence policy adjustments, training programmes for party officials, and the establishment of clearer reporting channels within the SNP and affiliated bodies such as the Scottish Youth Parliament.