AN SNP councillor facing allegations of sexual harassment has quit a local authority.

Jordan Linden, who quit as the leader of North Lanarkshire Council last year, has now resigned from the local authority entirely as well as the SNP, reports our sister title The National.

It will trigger a by-election in his patch of Bellshill, the local authority said.

A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire council said: “Councillor Jordan Linden has today intimated his resignation as an elected member to the council’s chief executive.

“Arrangements for a byelection in the Bellshill ward will be announced in due course.”

He previously apologised after the Sunday Mail reported he had groped a teenager at a party in 2019 when he was in his early twenties.

The paper later reported other accusations had been made against him by members of the Scottish Youth Parliament. The SNP said at the time police had investigated and concluded "no action was required". 

Speaking last year, Linden said: "Although I have never approached any personal interaction with ill intent, 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.

"And in all that’s been said in recent days, the empathetic words from that individual have given me the most reassurance.”

Linden's resignation triggered a sequence of events which ultimately resulted in North Lanarkshire returning to Labour control after it was won by the SNP in May's local elections. 

In a statement released through the SNP press office, Linden said: "I have today tendered my resignation as a councillor for Bellshill. 

"It breaks my heart to give up the job I love, but I now plan to step back from politics for the foreseeable future. 

"My resignation is due to the extreme impact all of this is having on my life. 

"In resigning, I want to be clear, I refute the recent allegations and I will robustly defend myself. 

"I thank the people of Bellshill for allowing me the privilege of my life, in representing them on the council.

"I hope that in making this decision, me and those closest to me, are now allowed to live in peace in the days and weeks ahead.”