AN SNP MP who made an “unwanted sexual advance” to a teenage staffer should quit, the person he targeted has said.
Patrick Grady is facing a two-day suspension from the Commons after he was found to have breached Parliament’s sexual misconduct policy.
The man he targeted, who was 19 at the time, said he is “bitterly disappointed” at the “lenient” sanction.
He also criticised the SNP’s handling of the situation, saying he has been made to feel as though it is his fault, and said his life has been a “living hell”.
Investigators examined the behaviour of Grady, who was 36 at the time, towards the then-19-year-old party staff member at a 2016 SNP social event while “under the influence of alcohol”.
A report into his conduct said that the Glasgow North MP “made an unwanted sexual advance to the complainant that included the touching and stroking of the complainant’s neck, hair, and back”.
The recommendation that he should be suspended for two days came from the Independent Expert Panel (IEP), which looks at cases of sexual misconduct.
The victim, who is not being named to protect his identity, told the Daily Record: “I’m bitterly disappointed at such a lenient sanction.
“It is not only devastating to me but also to other victims of sexual harassment.
“He needs to stand down as he is not fit to be an MP.”
The IEP said the former chief whip’s behaviour marked a “significant breach” of Parliament’s sexual misconduct policy in a ruling on Tuesday.
In a personal statement to the Commons, Grady said: “I am profoundly sorry for my behaviour and I deeply regret my actions and their consequences.”
The complainant, now aged 25, said that “the SNP has made me feel like it’s my fault” and described the party’s treatment of him as “bullying”.
He told the newspaper: “Since making the complaint, it has been a living hell.
“I was punished by the party as a whole.
“Not any single individual but I think as a collective I’ve been punished.”
In his statement to the Commons, Grady accepted that on October 20 2016 at a SNP social event he “made an inappropriate physical advance to a junior member of SNP group staff”.
He added: “My behaviour and the intent behind it was a significant breach of the behaviour code and sexual misconduct policy for the UK Parliament.
“The breach is aggravated by a considerable disparity in age and authority between myself and the complainant and further aggravated by excessive consumption of alcohol on my part.
“I was wrong to make assumptions about the social and personal relationship that existed or had potential to exist between myself and the complainant, and wrong to act on those assumptions.”
Grady stood aside as chief whip after the complaints were formally referred in May 2021.
It is understood Grady has been suspended from the SNP until his parliamentary suspension has been completed after the group met to consider the report on Tuesday evening.
The SNP have been approached for comment on the newspaper article.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel