Inquiry Initiated into Scottish Youth Parliament Following Former Chairman's Conviction
The charity regulator has launched an inquiry into the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) after its former chairman, Jordan Linden, was sentenced to prison for sexual offences involving young men and boys.
Linden, who subsequently became the Scottish National Party (SNP) leader of North Lanarkshire Council, committed some of these offences during his tenure as chairman of the youth parliament.
The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) announced it would examine the regulatory and governance frameworks of the charity.
The Scottish Youth Parliament stated it is "fully committed to supporting that review in any way we can."
Details of Conviction and Offences
Jordan Linden was sentenced to 18 months in prison last week after being found guilty of sexually assaulting five young men and sending unwanted sexual communications to seven teenagers, the youngest being 14 years old.
The 30-year-old denied the charges and has filed an intention to appeal both his conviction and sentence.
The offences occurred between 2011 and 2021, with some victims being members of the Scottish Youth Parliament at the time.
Linden joined the SYP in 2011 at age 15 and served as chairman from 2015 to 2016.
About the Scottish Youth Parliament
Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) range in age from 14 to 25. They are elected biennially to represent Scottish Parliament constituencies and nine national voluntary organisations.
The organisation is youth-led, with adults serving as supporters, advisers, and facilitators.
MSYPs engage with young people in their constituencies to identify issues impacting them. Current campaigns include efforts to end gender-based violence and calls for enhanced mental health education and training.
Similar institutions include the Welsh Youth Parliament, the Northern Ireland Youth Assembly, and the UK Youth Parliament.
Linden's Political Career and Arrest
After his involvement with the SYP, Linden was elected as an SNP councillor in 2017. He was appointed leader of North Lanarkshire Council in 2022 but resigned a few weeks later. He was arrested in 2024 in connection with the offences.
Regulator's Response and Ongoing Review
The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator confirmed it had initiated an inquiry into the Scottish Youth Parliament following an assessment of concerns received about the organisation.
"In line with our published policies, we are unable to provide further comment at this time," the regulator stated.
The Scottish Youth Parliament pledged full cooperation with the investigation.
"We have received notification from OSCR that it has started a review into our regulatory and governance procedures and we are fully committed to supporting that review in any way we can," the SYP said.
"Our safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures have been reviewed and strengthened on a regular basis, including in 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2024, with further updates planned this year.
"We remain committed to maintaining a safe environment for all young people and to continually improving our safeguarding practice."
