Jordan Linden

Jordan Linden
Leader of North Lanarkshire Council
In office
19 May 2022 – 27 July 2022
Preceded byJim Logue
Succeeded byJim Logue
Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament
In office
2015–2016
Preceded byLouise Cameron
Succeeded byKatie Burke
Personal details
Born1995 or 1996 (age 30–31)
PartyIndependent
Other political
affiliations
Scottish National Party (until 2023)
RelativesDavid Linden (cousin)

Jordan Linden (born 1995 or 1996) is a Scottish former politician and convicted sex offender. He was the leader of North Lanarkshire Council from May 2022 until July 2022, when he stepped down after a series of sexual assault allegations.

Career

He served as chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) between 2015 and 2016, serving as a MSYP from 2011 to 2016 and served as a councillor for Belshill from May 2017 to March 2023, being elected for the SNP, during which time he worked for Richard Lyle.

While at the SYP, there were a number of internal investigations into sexual harassment allegations. In November 2017, after his first election to council, he briefly "stepped aside" from his SNP membership, while police investigated numerous allegations of sexual harassment from his time at the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP): Linden said he had been investigated internally and cleared. In April 2018, this police investigation ended with "no criminality established".

By July 2019, he was deputy leader of the SNP group on the council, and became group leader in March 2021.

In 2019, he was nominated for selection as SNP candidate in the 2019 UK general election. During this time, he attended a party following a pride event, after which he was accused of groping a teenager: four days later, apparently after complaints were made to the party, he pulled out of the selection contest.

Linden again was SNP candidate in the 2022 local elections, after which, he became the leader of the council. In July, news of the 2019 elections was published. After this, he resigned as leader of the council. Later that month, five young men came forward claiming to have been groomed harassed or assaulted by Linden, criticising management of SYP for failing to protect them. Following this, the SNP lost control of the council to Labour.

In March 2023, it was reported that, following Linden’s resignation as leader, the council group leadership following discussions with SNP chief executive Peter Murrell urged councillors to support Linden amid negative effects on his mental health. As a result of the handling of this, eight SNP councillors in the North Lanarkshire group quit the party, ultimately sitting together as the "Progressive Change North Lanarkshire" group.

Sexual assault conviction

Charges

Linden was arrested in February 2024 in regards to various sexual allegations and charged in April 2024. Linden was accused of 15 offences involving 12 males, including sexual assault, sexual communication and stalking.

Trial

One victim said that Linden had sent him photographs of his genitalia, touched his bottom, attempted to pull down his trousers and "poked and prodded" him in meetings. Another victim and former member of the SYP, said that Linden had "cornered" him in his hotel room. A witness who was later elected as a councillor said that the SNP had "downplayed" complaints related to Linden.

Linden denied all charges.

Former SYP board member Amy Lee Fraioli said that the SYP's chief executive had told the SNP's chief executive Peter Murrell about complaints related to Linden in 2016.

Conviction

On 26 March 2026, Linden was convicted of five sexual assaults on young men and was also found guilty of sending unsolicited sexual communications to seven teenagers of which the youngest was 14. Sheriff Christopher Shead of the Falkirk Sheriff Court sentenced Linden to 18 months in prison and placed him on the sex offender register. Linden was acquitted of a sixth charge of sexual assault and also of five other charges of stalking and sexual communication.

Aftermath

First Minister John Swinney apologised to victims of Linden and asked for an independent review of the party's complaints process.

SNP councillor Tracy Carragher was criticised for how she dealt with complaints about Linden. Carragher was suspended from the party, removed as leader of the North Lanarkshire Council's SNP group and removed as a candidate in the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. In August 2026, she was readmitted to the party after an investigation concluded that she had not covered up any complaint related to Linden.

In May 2026, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator announced that it had opened an inquiry into the Scottish Youth Parliament. Linden is appealing his sentence.

Personal life

Jordan Linden is the cousin of SNP politician David Linden.

Linden is gay.

References

  1. 1 2 Ogston, Graeme (12 May 2026). "Jailed former council leader Jordan Linden to appeal conviction". BBC News. Archived from the original on 14 May 2026. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Ex-SNP council leader appears in court accused of 15 sex offences". STV News. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2025..
  3. 1 2 "Jordan Linden, an SNP councillor, steps aside after police sleaze probet". The Herald. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  4. ↑ Jones, Gareth (24 April 2018). "Misconduct probe at Scottish Youth Parliament ends". Third Force News. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  5. ↑ "Controversial "eye-watering" six-figure pay off to NLC chief to be investigated". Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  6. ↑ Tonner, Judith (9 March 2021). "New leader for North Lanarkshire SNP group". Daily Record. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  7. 1 2 Rodger, Hannah (25 July 2022). "North Lanarkshire Council leader accused of groping a teenager during a boozy party". Sunday Mail. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  8. 1 2 Gordon, Tom (27 July 2022). "SNP council leader Jordan Linden quits in 'sexual misconduct' row". The Herald. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  9. ↑ Rodger, Hannah (31 July 2022). "Five alleged victims of former SNP council leader Jordan Linden accuse youth charity boss of failing to protect them". Sunday Mail. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  10. ↑ Tonner, Judith (12 August 2021). "SNP lose control of North Lanarkshire after councillor's defection". Lanarkshire Live. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  11. ↑ Rodger, Hannah (12 March 2023). "SNP chief facing claims he directed members to close ranks to protect shamed sex pest". Sunday Mail. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  12. ↑ Pollock, Laura (24 May 2023). "North Lanarkshire: Progressive Change party reveals plans after leaving SNP". The National. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  13. 1 2 Hayes, Georgina (24 March 2026). "Former council leader denies sending sexual images to men and boys". BBC News. Archived from the original on 7 May 2026. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  14. ↑ "Sexual offences trial of former SNP council leader hears from alleged victim". BBC News. 18 March 2026. Archived from the original on 20 September 2026. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  15. ↑ "Former Scottish Youth Parliament chairman 'cornered' boy, court hears". BBC News. 19 March 2026. Archived from the original on 26 March 2026. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  16. ↑ "SNP 'downplayed' complaints about former council leader, trial hears". BBC News. 23 March 2026. Archived from the original on 27 March 2026. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  17. ↑ "SNP chief told of Linden complaints 10 years ago, says ex-official". BBC News. 6 April 2026. Archived from the original on 20 September 2026. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  18. ↑ "Former council leader guilty of sexually assaulting young men". BBC News. 26 March 2026. Archived from the original on 20 September 2026. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  19. 1 2 Allan, Suzanne; Ogston, Graeme (6 May 2026). "Former council leader jailed for sexually assaulting young men". BBC News. Archived from the original on 20 September 2026. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  20. ↑ Sim, Phil; Hastie, Paul (27 March 2026). "SNP to review party complaints after sex attacks by ex-council leader". BBC News. Archived from the original on 6 May 2026. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  21. ↑ "First Minister apologises to victims of ex-council leader". BBC News. 29 March 2026. Archived from the original on 20 September 2026. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  22. 1 2 Bews, Lynsey; Cochrane, Angus; Lockhart, David Wallace (1 April 2026). "SNP candidate ditched over handling of Linden complaints". BBC News. Archived from the original on 20 September 2026. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  23. ↑ "SNP councillor reinstated after probe into Jordan Linden complaints". BBC News. 23 August 2026. Archived from the original on 31 August 2026. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  24. ↑ Allan, Suzanne (12 May 2026). "Inquiry launched into Scottish Youth Parliament after former chairman jailed". BBC News. Archived from the original on 14 May 2026. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  25. ↑ Scott, Kevin (27 March 2026). "Jordan Linden was 'enabled to act inappropriately by his SNP colleagues'". STV News. Archived from the original on 20 September 2026. Retrieved 20 September 2026.