It’s budget day in the Scottish parliament and the Scottish finance secretary has just resigned. Derek Mackay has quit his role as finance secretary hours before he was due to deliver his budget following a story published in the Scottish Sun alleging he sent inappropriate messages to a 16-year-old boy on social media.
The paper published a list of messages Mackay had allegedly sent to the boy since contacting the individual ‘out of the blue’ in August of last year. The messages published include Mackay, 42, seemingly telling the teenager he was ‘cute’, that he was ‘looking good with new haircut’ and inviting him to a dinner.
In response to the story, Mackay, a leading SNP politician who had even been tipped as a potential successor to Nicola Sturgeon, released the following statement:
‘I take full responsibility for my actions. I have behaved foolishly and I am truly sorry. I apologise unreservedly to the individual involved and his family.I
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in