SO WHY EXACTLY DID YOU QUIT MINISTER?
Shamed Sturgeon ally lies low after resigning top job SNP throw veil of secrecy over truth of what he did
THE SNP last night closed ranks around shamed MSP Mark McDonald after he quit as Childcare Minister amid mysterious sexual harassment claims.
The party refused to clarify the “inappropriate” actions that the married father-of-two admitted might have made
others feel “uncomfortable”. But critics said it was wrong a government minister could resign under a cloud without the public knowing the details.
They also questioned why his behaviour was deemed unacceptable for a junior government minister but not significant enough to require him to stand down as an MSP.
Former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: “These revelations engulfing our political system are so rotten, even the clean-up stinks.”
Shamed McDonald, the Aberdeen Donside MSP, said he had thought his behaviour was “humorous or attempting to be friendly” but apologised to “anyone I have upset” as he sensationally quit on Saturday night.
The 37-year-old, who was not returning phone calls yesterday, became the first Holyrood scalp after the Record last Monday reported claims sexual harassment is rife in the Scottish Parliament.
It’s understood the complaint about him was one of two subsequently made to the SNP about inappropriate behaviour, the second of which does not relate to a parliamentarian.
McDonald’s resignation is an embarrassment to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who appointed him as Minister for Childcare and Early Years after last year’s Holyrood election.
He served as junior minister to Education Secretary John Swinney, who last week led the Government on the issue of harassment at Holyrood.
A spokesman for Sturgeon said McDonald remained a “valuable” part of the SNP group at Holyrood. “Mark has taken the right action in apologising and recognising that in his current role it would be inappropriate for him to remain in government,” he said.
“He will continue to make a valuable contribution to parliament as the MSP for Aberdeen Donside.”
The SNP refused to comment further yesterday, saying they wanted to protect the confidentiality of the woman who complained.
And Sturgeon’s party were dragged further into the scandal after it emerged a second SNP MSP, Willie Coffey, was reported to Holyrood bosses after a civil servant complained about his behaviour.
The administrative assistant complained of “inappropriate language” and “unsolicited attention” from the 59-year-old backbencher.
The complaint – made six months ago – centred on alleged approaches made by the Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley MSP in person and in email.
Coffey has denied any wrongdoing. He said he “does not recognise the claims that are being made about his behaviour”.
All parties are now braced for further revelations when a Scottish Parliament hotline to confidentially report sexual harassment opens at 9am today.
Dugdale, who first went public with claims of harassment in her Daily Record column three weeks ago, said all parties at Westminster and Holyrood are struggling to get a grip of the crisis.
She said: “To my eyes no leader is acting with complete purity and propriety.
“There is a political calculation in every decision amid this crisis. Both Parliaments are awash with rumours of more cases. The