Police are investigating an allegation of sexual assault made towards former North Lanarkshire council chief Jordan Linden. Mr Linden, whose resignation as council chief triggered the collapse of the SNP administration within the space, stepped down from the council and left the party earlier this yr.

The Sunday Mail newspaper says 5 males have made allegations towards the previous chief, with two of them talking to detectives.

Mr Linden informed the newspaper he didn't settle for the allegations which had been made towards him.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman stated: "Officers are investigating a report of a sexual assault incident having taken place in 2017.

"Enquiries are at an early stage and ongoing."

On Saturday, SNP leader Humza Yousaf was campaigning in Bellshill ahead of a by-election triggered by Mr Linden's resignation from the council.

He said the party would investigate how it handled complaints regarding Mr Linden.

Several councillors have also left the SNP's group in North Lanarkshire to sit as independents.

Mr Yousaf admitted the SNP's issues in the area "might have been dealt with higher".

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He stated: "We've bought a terrific native candidate right here.

"We're absolutely holding our hands up - I, as First Minister and leader of the party, say that things of course could have been handled better.

"That's why we'll do the investigation.

"What we've got here now in North Lanarkshire is a Labour council propped up by, frankly, the Conservatives, and that's not serving the people of this area well at all."

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