Humza Yousaf attends ‘sex plague by-election’ as new SNP council member resigns
The First Minister is due to meet candidate Joe Budd at Bellshill in North Lanarkshire today to try and win support ahead of the June 15 vote.
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former SNP council leader Jordan Linden after allegations of sexual misconduct were made against him, which he denied.
Mr Linden resigned as the £45,000 North Lanarkshire boss last year, just weeks after the SNP took control of Labor Council, and admitted he made a teenager at a party in ‘an uneasiness, which I totally regret”. 2019
After further allegations followed – and were again denied – Mr Linden, the cousin of Glasgow East SNP MP David Linden, resigned from his position as councilor in March.
Last year eight SNP councilors raised concerns about the local and national party’s handling of complaints against Cllr Linden and were subsequently sanctioned.
They have been accused of discrediting the party for trying to amend a motion by the new SNP group leader, Tracy Garragher, to the full council. Earlier this month, two members of the group were expelled and five suspended for six months, prompting all to resign from the SNP faction.
It has now emerged that an eighth councilman, Jim Hume, a longtime SNP representative in the Wishaw Borough, also resigned from the party this week to sit as an independent.
In a brief statement, he said: “I look forward to working with a group of councilors whose primary focus is not partisan politics but working together in the best interest of all people in North Lanarkshire.”
During his visit today, Mr Yousaf will claim that the SNP has remained focused on local issues despite years of bitter infighting within the council faction.
The SNP Chair will say: “I am proud that SNP campaigners across Scotland continue to bring our progressive vision and plans for a fairer, greener and more prosperous Scotland to our doorsteps.”
“I’m delighted to join our SNP candidate and local campaigners to speak to people and businesses in Bellshill about their priorities and how the SNP is the only party protecting Scotland from the brunt of Westminster politics – in stark contrast to the Tory/Labour Coalition.” in North Lanarkshire Council.
“The SNP is the only party offering our communities a positive alternative to the broken Westminster system. A vote for the SNP ensures we can finally get rid of harmful Tory governments.”
Mr Budd, a civil engineer, had previously resigned from the SNP over political disagreements and contested another North Lanarkshire Council by-election in 2021 as an independent, finishing third.
