SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has been urged to quit after a secret recording showed him offering “absolute full support” to a sex pest colleague.
He spoke up for shamed Patrick Grady, who was found to have made unwanted sexual advances to a 19 year old.
Labour MSP Neil Bibby said: "There is no place in politics for men who turn a blind eye to abuse because it has been perpetrated by a friend.
"Mr Blackford is leader of the UK's third party and close ally of the First Minister, he must stand aside.”
Westminster authorities last week ruled that Grady, the SNP MP for Glasgow North, had touched and stroked his victim’s hair, back and neck in a London pub in 2016.
Grady, who used to be the SNP Chief Whip, apologised and was suspended from the Commons for 48 hours - a sanction blasted by the victim.
The man later told the Record that only one of 45 SNP MPs had been in touch with after him after the sexual misconduct ruling.
The Daily Mail and the Sun over the weekend reported details of an SNP group meeting that discussed the Grady case.
The party also agreed to a suspension that would expire at the end of the Commons ban.
Blackford can be heard saying on the audio: “He’s [Grady] 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.”
Amy Callaghan, the party’s pensions spokesman, told her fellow MPs: “We should be rallying together around him to support him at this time.”
These comments were met with a shout of “hear, hear” and loud clapping.
The audio enraged the victim and fuelled calls for Blackford to go.
Bibby said: "From the start, the SNP have behaved in a way that is disgraceful - closing ranks and intimidating people who tried to bring this story to light.
"That they are now celebrating that Patrick Grady will escape with just a slap on the wrist is beneath contempt.
“Victims must know that if they speak out against the powerful in politics they will see justice done - that has not happened in this case.
“There are serious questions for the SNP about whether Patrick Grady is being treated so lamely compared to others because of his closeness to the SNP establishment.”
“Patrick Grady should do the only honourable thing and resign his seat immediately.”
Scottish Tory MSP Meghan Gallacher said: "Ian Blackford cannot remain as leader of the SNP at Westminster.
"Patrick Grady's unacceptable misconduct involving a teenage SNP staffer amounted to a huge breach of trust.
“Ever since this complaint was first raised the SNP have been evasive and sought to sweep it under the carpet.
"Then, Blackford and his colleagues were shamefully mealy-mouthed in condemning Patrick Grady when the brave victim was vindicated this week.
"Now we know why. There was an orchestrated campaign from the very top of the SNP to back Patrick Grady – rather than support the young victim.
"Grady should have been properly censured by the SNP. Ian Blackford should resign for his appalling lack of judgement; and, if not, Nicola Sturgeon should sack him."
Blackford has also been criticised for being part of an attempt to resolve the Grady scandal informally a few years ago.
The victim told the Record he was called into Blackford's room at Westminster, where he found Grady sobbing. The man described the meeting as an "ambush".
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