An SNP staffer says the party has learned nothing from his sexual misconduct complaint against an MP.
The panel recommended he be suspended from the Commons for two days - with the SNP understood to have also suspended him until his parliamentary suspension was complete., Mr Blackford could be heard urging his colleagues to "give as much support as possible" to Mr Grady.
"I was also given zero notice that this so called apology was going to be published or given to broadcasters to use. The staffer said he had been contacted by Ms Callaghan before she issued her apology, which he had accepted as he believed it was heartfelt and that she had "learned and reflected and realised why that was wrong".
He said he believed this was done because their view that he was "young and inexperienced" and that the complaint would be "over and done with" if Mr Grady offered an apology. She added: "I take these issues very seriously. But these issues are not unique to the SNP. All of us have lessons to learn." He said he "regrets the fact the discussion took place the way it did" during the SNP group meeting, but denied his authority had been undermined by the situation.Mr Blackford also refused to directly call for Mr Grady to stand down but suggested he needed to "reflect on his behaviour".
The overriding concern will be that, in future, people who are subject to inappropriate behaviour feel supported to come forward.
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