THE SNP has come under fire after posts emerged from their newly-appointed complaints officer accusing their own party MP of “transphobia” and “bullying”.

Ricky Taylor posted online on Friday evening to say he was “delighted” to be joining the SNP’s headquarters at the end of August as the party’s new complaints officer.

He added: “It’s not going to be the easiest job but I’m definitely up for the challenge of making sure the party is a welcoming and safe place for all”.

However, many, including the party’s own Joanna Cherry MP, were quick to bring-to-light previous tweets from Mr Taylor – with questions being raised over how he passed a vetting process.

 

A spokesman for the SNP said they have “full confidence in his abilities”.

Recruitment for the new role came after a series of controversies over the conduct of senior figures in the party.

Recent instances included former leader Alex Salmond, former finance secretary Derek Mackay, former early years minister Mark McDonald, former Westminster chief whip Patrick Grady, and the MP Margaret Ferrier.

Salmond, Mackay and McDonald are no longer in the party, with the former first minister now leading Alba.

Ferrier sits as an independent MP while Grady continues to sit as an SNP MP.

Sharing screenshots of previous posts, Ms Cherry wrote: “The new SNP complaints officer Ricky Taylor has a history of targeting me and calling me transphobic for my lawful gender critical views. How did he pass vetting?”

READ MORE: MP Joanna Cherry blames 'irresponsible' SNP for abuse and demands apology

Tweets cited included Mr Taylor replying to Ms Cherry, saying; “I’m not in any nasty minority. I’m a member of the party that’s deeply concerned with the open transphobia that you constantly spout.”

At the time of the exchange, in late January, the MP replied: “You won’t find anything to show I’m transphobic because I’m not. Standing up for women’s rights and those of lesbians is not transphobic. Grow up.”

Mr Taylor responded: “No, Joanna. It’s time you grew up and stopped creating a toxic environment within the SNP and pulling the defamation card anytime you’re challenged on your views.”

Other tweets, found by The Herald, show Mr Taylor to say: “There’s certainly no place for bullying or intimidation in politics so maybe JC can start practicing what she preaches?”

Another tweet, referencing independence plans, said: “I can’t believe there’s still some in the party that are pushing this ‘plan B’ nonsense.

“It’s nothing more than an excuse for some to undermine the Party Leader and to push their own agenda.”

The Herald: SNP MP Joanna CherrySNP MP Joanna Cherry (Image: PA)

An SNP spokesman said: "The Party’s new complaints officer will play an important administrative role at headquarters, and we have full confidence in his abilities.

“Decisions on complaints remain with the National Secretary.”

Questions were asked about the SNP’s complaints process during the Holyrood inquiry into the Scottish Government’s handling of harassment allegations against Salmond, who successfully took the administration to court over allegations made against him by two civil servants.

The court ruled that the government's investigation was unlawful and tainted by "apparent bias".

SNP chief executive Peter Murrell faced questions about the party’s complaints procedures while giving evidence to the harassment committee in Holyrood in December.

The rules, which Murrell said dated back to 2004, gave the national secretary the “sole ability” to decide whether a complaint should be sent to the member conduct committee.

Asked at the time whether changes would be made to the process, Murrell said: “It will be looked at. We have been through a constitutional review in the interim, and the disciplinary rules have not changed, but that is not a fixed position.

“At any point, we could look at the rules and think that they need to be changed, sharpened up or whatever, so that is an option.”

The latest revelations come as Ms Cherry pointed the blame for abuse at her own “irresponsible” party following the sentencing of a man who threatened her online.

Grant Karte was yesterday ordered not to contact Ms Cherry for five years, given a supervised community payback order for 15 months and ordered to do 160 hours of unpaid work after sending the MP threats on Twitter.

The former SNP member previously admitted sending Twitter messages on February 1 that were “grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character” in that he repeatedly threatened Ms Cherry contrary to the Communications Act 2003.

In a statement following the 30-year-old’s sentence, Ms Cherry said she was disappointed at the lack of support by the party “hierarchy” and linked the abuse she received to her sacking from the Westminster front bench, describing her colleagues as “irresponsible”.

An SNP spokeswoman yesterday said it was a “welcome conviction for totally unacceptable behaviour.”

The Herald has contacted Ricky Taylor for comment.