It’s not been Ian Blackford’s best weekend. On Friday night, the Daily Mail exposed a secret recording in which the Westminster leader directed his MPs to back a sex pest in their party. Blackford told SNP members on Tuesday night to give Patrick Grady their ‘absolute full support’ after the latter was found by an independent panel to have touched and stroked the neck, hair and back of a colleague 17 years his junior at a social event. Just 15 minutes after Grady’s suspension from parliament was announced, Blackford told applauding SNP colleagues that:
He’s going to face a number of challenges over the short term and so he should have our absolute full support. I for one very much look forward to welcoming Patrick back into the group next week. I am sure that everybody here will agree.
On Saturday night, another round of bad headlines was inspired after a late night email was leaked in which Owen Thompson, Grady’s replacement as SNP Chief Whip at Westminster, threatened his fellow MPs with criminal action over the recording.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in