Sentencing Delayed for Former North Lanarkshire Council Leader Jordan Linden

May 5, 2026, 11:29

Introduction

The sentencing of Jordan Linden, a former Scottish National Party (SNP) council leader convicted of several sexual crimes, has been moved to Wednesday.

Main Body

Jordan Linden, 30, was convicted in March at Falkirk Sheriff Court on ten charges. These include five counts of sexual assault and three counts of behavior causing fear or alarm, with the crimes occurring between 2011 and 2021. These legal issues followed Linden's resignation as leader of North Lanarkshire Council in July 2022, which caused the local SNP administration to collapse. Furthermore, Linden left the party entirely in 2024. The hearing scheduled for Tuesday was delayed because his lawyer, David Moggach KC, was busy with a long trial at Inverness High Court. Sheriff Christopher Shead expressed frustration that the court was not informed about this conflict earlier. The defense explained that the delay in notification was due to the bank holiday. Consequently, the court agreed to postpone the hearing until the next day. This case has also led to political consequences. First Minister John Swinney ordered an independent review of the SNP's internal rules to see how complaints against Linden were handled. While SNP leaders supported the court's decision and praised the victims, political opponents have been critical. For example, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar claimed that the party's handling of the allegations showed 'double standards.'

Conclusion

Jordan Linden remains on bail until his rescheduled sentencing hearing on Wednesday.

Learning

⚡ The 'Connector Jump' from A2 to B2

At the A2 level, we usually connect ideas with simple words like and, but, or so. To reach B2, you need Logical Transitions. These are words that tell the reader how two ideas relate, making your English sound professional and fluid.

Look at these 'Power Words' from the text:

Furthermore $\rightarrow$ Used to add more information.
- A2 Style: He left the party. He also did other things.
- B2 Style: He resigned from the council; furthermore, he left the party entirely.
Consequently $\rightarrow$ Used to show a direct result.
- A2 Style: The lawyer was busy, so the court changed the date.
- B2 Style: The lawyer was busy with another trial; consequently, the court agreed to postpone the hearing.

💡 Pro Tip for Fluency: Don't just use these words at the start of a sentence. Use them after a semicolon (;) or a comma to create a complex sentence. This is the 'secret sauce' that makes an examiner see you as a B2 student.

Quick Comparison Table

A2 Simple Connector	B2 Bridge Connector	Effect on the Listener
Also	Furthermore	Sounds more formal/academic
So	Consequently	Shows a logical cause-and-effect
But	While	Allows you to compare two ideas in one sentence

Vocabulary Learning

convicted (v.)

Clear English Definition: Found guilty of a crime by a court.

Example:He was convicted of fraud after the trial.

charges (n.)

Clear English Definition: Formal accusations of wrongdoing.

Example:The police filed charges against the suspect.

assault (n.)

Clear English Definition: Physical attack on another person.

Example:She reported a sexual assault to the authorities.

behavior (n.)

Clear English Definition: The way a person acts or behaves.

Example:His behavior at the meeting was inappropriate.

fear (n.)

Clear English Definition: An unpleasant emotion caused by danger.

Example:The news caused widespread fear among residents.

alarm (n.)

Clear English Definition: A warning signal or feeling of danger.

Example:The alarm rang when the door was opened.

resignation (n.)

Clear English Definition: The act of quitting a job or position.

Example:Her resignation surprised everyone.

collapse (v.)

Clear English Definition: To fall down or fail suddenly.

Example:The bridge collapsed during the storm.

defense (n.)

Clear English Definition: The act of protecting or arguing in favor.

Example:The defense presented new evidence.

postpone (v.)

Clear English Definition: To delay an event to a later time.

Example:They decided to postpone the meeting.

independent (adj.)

Clear English Definition: Not controlled by others; self-governing.

Example:He gave an independent assessment of the situation.

review (v.)

Clear English Definition: To examine or assess something again.

Example:The committee will review the report next week.