Patrick Grady to step away from SNP membership over allegations

Key Facts

Image source, UK Parliament Patrick Grady is stepping away from his SNP membership following reports that police are to investigate allegations of sexual harassment against him.
Mr Grady, the party's former chief whip, told the Commons he was "profoundly sorry" after an independent panel found he had touched and stroked the neck, hair and back of his colleague during a social event in 2016.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "On Wednesday, 22 June police received an allegation of sexual assault that is said to have taken place in October 2016 at a commercial premises in Folgate Street, E1.
'CLOSING RANKS' After it was recommended that Mr Grady was suspended from parliament for two days, it emerged that Mr Blackford had subsequently urged his party's MPs to "give as much support as possible" to the MP after audio of an SNP group meeting was leaked to the Daily Mail.