A Scottish Nationalist MSP was the target of a covert surveillance operation carried out by a member of her own parliamentary staff, explosive allegations revealed yesterday.
Listening Devices Planted in Holyrood and Constituency Offices
The former worker, who has not been named, is accused of placing audio recording devices in the office of the unnamed politician within the Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood. The individual reportedly admitted to planting the bugs during an unrelated Human Resources investigation. Evidence of the bugging was subsequently discovered in both the MSP's Holyrood office and her constituency office.
Despite the serious allegations, the accused man remains an office bearer in a local SNP branch and is understood to be actively campaigning for the party ahead of next year's election. He is described as a long-serving party figure who worked under four First Ministers and previously served as an aide to senior SNP members.
Calls for Transparency and Allegations of a Cover-Up
Staff members affected by the incident approached Holyrood's presiding officer, Alison Johnstone, for support in August. Complaints were made to the authorities, and counselling was offered to the MSP and her team. However, opposition parties have accused the SNP hierarchy of attempting to bury the scandal.
First Minister John Swinney was urged to state clearly 'what he knew and when' about the 2023 incident. Responding to media questions, Mr Swinney said he was 'not familiar with all the details' but condemned the behaviour as 'completely and utterly unacceptable'.
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton demanded: 'John Swinney must come clean and tell Scots what he knew.' Scottish Labour's deputy leader, Dame Jackie Baillie, said the 'revelations pose serious questions for the SNP top brass', suggesting a 'grave breach of privacy and potentially criminal behaviour has been swept under the carpet'.
Broader Concerns Over Misogyny and Accountability
The case has ignited wider concerns about culture within the party. One source close to the scandal stated: 'This is a man who was trying to undermine a politician in the party of government and because he’s talented and highly competent, he’s still there. It’s another spy scandal and it’s been swept under the carpet.'
Another source suggested the lack of meaningful punishment was consistent with a 'woman problem' in the SNP. Former Nationalist MP Joanna Cherry KC echoed this, writing on social media: 'When will the SNP accept they have a huge problem with misogyny and do something about it? This individual should have been reported to the police and barred from parliament.'
A Scottish Parliament spokesman clarified that 'each MSP is an employer in their own right' and responsible for staff matters. An SNP spokesman said the party 'has no involvement in the employment processes of parliamentarians'. A source close to Mr Swinney dismissed attempts to link him to the affair as a 'smear', insisting the First Minister knew nothing about it.
