Cops drop investigation into former SNP MP Patrick Grady accused of sexual harassment
A POLICE enquiry into allegations against Glasgow MP Patrick Grady has been dropped.
Grady gave up his SNP membership to sit as an independent when cops confirmed they would look into an alleged incident in a London pub in 2016.
A force spokesperson told the BBC: “Officers carried out inquiries, including speaking to the alleged victim. There will be no further police action at this time.”
The Metropolitan Police confirmed they had received an allegation from a third party of sexual assault on June 26th.
The force said officers will “be making enquiries, including contacting the alleged victim.”
The MP was suspended from parliament for two days earlier this month after an independent panel found he had behaved inappropriately towards a 19-year-old SNP member of staff at a social event in 2016.
Grady, the SNP’s former chief whip, told the House of Commons he was “profoundly sorry” after the independent panel found he had touched and stroked the neck, hair and back of the teenage staff member.
The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon said the SNP’s Westminster group had questions to answer over its handling of the allegations however she said she still has confidence in Westminster’s leader Ian Blackford.
It comes after a leaked recording heard Blackford urging his party’s MPs to give Grady as much support as possible.
In the recording, MPs can be heard applauding and saying ‘hear, hear’ when called to give him support.
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The victim spoke to the Scottish Sun and said: “I’m not surprised by the actions of Ian Blackford and the SNP MPs.
“There is no route back to work for me when the leader (Blackford) is directing MPs to support the harasser, rather than the victim.”
East Dunbartonshire MP Amy Callaghan can also be heard telling the group: “I think we should be rallying together for this campaign, but also regardless of our position on Patrick’s situation, we should be rallying together around him to support him at this time.”
Callaghan later apologised saying: “This can and should only start with a wholehearted apology to anyone- especially survivors of harassment- who has been hurt or triggered as a result for this week.”
In a statement she said she took full responsibility for her words and was taking ‘full accountability for the hurt and disappointment’ caused.
Blackford had been urged to resign after the recording was leaked but issued a statement in which he pledged an “external review” of the support available to staff who make complaints.
However, Grady’s victim said the apology was “a publicity stunt by Ian in an effort to save his job, he hasn’t addressed his handling of the situation, he hasn’t addressed the seriousness of the upheld complaint, nor has he explained why he and the Chief Whip have given more focus to finding the leaker, than taking action on the harasser.”
Opposition politicians have been criticising the handling of the case as well the SNP’s own MPs.
SNP MP for Edinburgh South West, Joanna Cherry said she had concerns over ‘significant problems’ in the party.
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