An SNP MP has issued a “wholehearted apology” for backing sex pest Patrick Grady instead of offering sympathy to his victim.
Amy Callaghan - a rising star in the party - posted a lengthy and searing expression of regret after being secretly taped offering her support to her Westminster colleague.
The East Dunbartonshire MP was recorded at a meeting of SNP MPs telling her colleagues: “We should be rallying together around [Patrick] to support him at this time.”
The leaked tape also featured the party’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford saying he was “very much looking forward to welcoming Patrick back into the group next week” and calling on members to offer Grady “as much support as possible”.
— Amy Callaghan MP (@AmyCallaghanSNP)
Grady’s victim, who still works for the party, said after the clip emerged that it was now difficult to see how he could return to work and is now considering legal action.
On Monday, Callaghan acknowledged her comments and issued a “wholehearted apology” for the damage she had done.
She wrote: “I’m taking full accountability for the hurt and disappointment I’ve caused, not least of all to those directly impacted by sexual misconduct in this case.”
“This can and should only start with a wholehearted apology to anyone – especially survivors of harassment – who has been hurt or triggered as a result of this week.” “I have been searingly reflective and honest with myself. Whilst I can’t forgive myself for how inappropriate it was for me to frame my input this way, I owe everyone, not least survivors and my constituents, an explanation.”
The MP said he had been trying to support her colleague but fell short in offering the same support to his victim.
The 30-year-old lent on her own experience of surviving a brain haemorrhage to explain her actions.
She said: “I should have prefaced my comments and reiterated this throughout my contribution. I believed I was in a situation where my support of survivors was implied. I was wrong. This isn’t good enough.”
The move piles pressure on SNP leader Ian Blackford to explain his own taped comments calling on the SNP group to give “our absolute full support” to Grady who was found to have sexually harassed a 19 year old SNP staffer in 2016.
Grady was suspended from parliament for two days last week, while the SNP also withdrew the whip from the MP until he had served his suspension.
John Lamont, Tory Borders MP, called on Ian Blackford to address the situation and resign from his post.
Lamont said: “Ian Blackford must break his silence and explain why he has taken no action to prevent sexual harassment in the SNP Westminster Group.
“He has treated a disgraced MP with more sympathy than the victim who suffered harassment.”
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