Council leader quits amid sexual harassment claims

The leader of North Lanarkshire Council has resigned after being accused of groping and sexual harassment.

Allegations about the SNP's Jordan Linden were originally published in the Sunday Mail newspaper.

The 27-year-old was made leader of the council following the elections in May.

A council spokesperson said: "We can confirm that the chief executive has received a letter from Councillor Jordan Linden resigning his role as leader of the council.

"A new leader will be elected at a meeting of the council to be held in due course."

The allegations against Mr Linden, a former chairman of the Scottish Youth Parliament, date back to 2019.

The Sunday Mail published claims that he groped a teenager while drunk at a party in Dundee, following the city's Pride parade.

That year Mr Linden was nominated to stand as an MP candidate in the general election.

However four days after the alleged incident he announced he would not be standing.

In an email to colleagues to confirm his resignation, Mr Linden said he had never "approached any personal interaction with ill intent".

He said: "I accept that my behaviour at that party in 2019 caused a sense of discomfort which I entirely regret.

"I offered my apologies to the person concerned at the time and the matter was closed. I reiterate that apology today."

Mr Linden added that the recent press coverage had seriously affected his mental health - and that he did not want there to be any distraction to the work of the council.

He will continue representing Bellshill as councillor.