In an effort to draw a line under the epic, the Westminster SNP leader said he was “deeply sorry” that a member of the party’s staff was “subject to inappropriate behavior”. The SNP Westminster Group has been in turmoil since parliamentary authorities released a report last Tuesday on Mr Grady’s behavior, with lawmakers divided over how to deal with the crisis. The crisis deepened over the weekend when a secret recording of Mr Blackford leaked to the press urging SNP lawmakers to support their embarrassed colleague. In a further reversal, party leader Owen Thompson then threatened anyone who had recorded and leaked the proceedings of the meeting with a criminal prosecution. Mr Blackford’s apology was issued tonight following a brief meeting with lawmakers amid speculation that the handling of the situation had raised questions in the group about whether he should continue his role as leader. “As head of SNP Westminster, I owe it to myself to take care of all our staff. That’s why I’m deeply sorry that a staff member behaved inappropriately. It was completely unacceptable and should never have happened. I’m sorry he did,” he said. “Staff must have full confidence that the team is taking complaints seriously. In this case, the Independent Complaints and Appeals System has investigated what happened. We respect and accept this independent process.” He added: “More than that, however, staff have a right to feel fully supported when a complaint is lodged. I’m sorry that the complainant does not feel this is happening. “The way in which this situation has been played out in public in recent days, including the recordings by the parliamentary group, has caused the complainant distress, among other things, and I am sorry that it is happening. “We will look at all the lessons we need to learn to make sure staff receive the support they need. complaints I process, process. “Complaints like this are never easy and I am determined that the staff has the support they need.” Mr Blackford will appear in public for the first time tomorrow since the secret recording appeared when he asked Boris Johnson questions about the prime minister. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. Tonight, the Scottish Conservatives again called on Mr Blackford to resign. Party leader Craig Hoy MSP said: “It’s amazing that Ian Blackford needed so much to realize he had to apologize. “SNP Westminster leader has shown disgusting judgment and is just now apologizing for a desperate attempt to save his skin. “His credibility has collapsed and he must leave, so that no victim will ever be horribly disappointed again.” Last night, an SNP lawmaker issued an extensive written statement apologizing for having previously agreed with Mr Blackford after urging colleagues to “rally around” Mr Grady. Earlier in the day, another SNP lawmaker criticized the party’s allegations and disciplinary proceedings. The leader of the SNP Westminster confronted his deputies at 6 p.m. in Room 21 of the Communities Committee with the apology issued by Mr Blackford through the party’s press office at 6.39 p.m. One of the experts told the Herald earlier this morning: “The mood has been bad for months, years really. It’s a vicious environment.” The victim of Mr. Grady, a member of the SNP staff who was 19 years old at the time of the incident in 2016, yesterday raised the possibility of legal action against the party. He said last week that he was not supported and was isolated by members of the Westminster team. At the same meeting, which took place last week, SNP MP Amy Callaghan and her colleague Marion Fellows also threw their weight on Mr Grady. Ms Callaghan told the group: “I think we need to come together for this campaign, but regardless of our position on Patrick’s situation, we need to rally around him to support him right now. “I do not think we are very good as a party in supporting each other and I think we need to make sure he feels supported at this point, so if we can all contact him, or do it if you feel capable of, rather we should do that. ” In a statement posted on Twitter late yesterday afternoon, he apologized. “This can and should only begin with a heartfelt apology to anyone – especially those who have survived harassment – who have been hurt or fired as a result of this week,” he wrote. “While I can not forgive myself for how inappropriate it was for me to frame my opinion in this way, I owe everyone, especially my survivors and voters, an explanation: “I’m sorry and I finally take full responsibility for my words, no matter how unconscious, mispronounced and misplaced. “I take full responsibility for the hurt and frustration I have caused, especially to those directly affected by sexual misconduct in this case. “Survivors must be supported. I should have prefaced my comments and repeated it throughout my contribution. I thought I was in a situation where my support for the survivors was implied. “I was wrong. This is not good enough. My comments without this context fully justify the inconvenience they cause. I’m sincerely sorry. “As a party, we are clearly behind in supporting the complainants.” Mr Blackford was quoted as saying: “I think most of you know how I feel about Patrick and I would encourage the team to provide as much support as possible. “And let’s look forward to next week, it is going to face a number of challenges in the short term and it has our full support. “I, too, look forward to welcoming Patrick back to the team next week.” SNP MP Joanna Cherry yesterday criticized the party’s system of complaints. The intervention of the former representative of justice and internal affairs of the party came after the threat of the members of the group with persecution by its leader for recording and leaking the meeting. “I was not at the SNP Westminster meeting last week. I do not approve of covert recording or leakage. “For some time now, the SNP has had significant problems with the way it handles complaints,” he wrote on Twitter. “My party must consider the opposition between the treatment of different ‘offenders’ and reconsider our arrangements for the pastoral care of the complainants.” In their report, the parliamentary inspector, the Independent Group of Experts, said Mr Grady had “made a sexual advance on the complainant” which was “obviously sexual with intent and manner, and clearly inappropriate”. He apologized to the Commons for his behavior and was suspended by the parliamentary authorities for two days. His SNP withdrew the party whip for the same period.
