MARK OF DISRESPECT
SNP are criticised for refusing to explain why McDonald has resigned
SNP insiders yesterday played down the seriousness of the “inappropriate” behaviour that forced Scotland’s childcare minister to resign in disgrace.
Mark McDonald stepped down after apologising for behaviour he said had been intended to be “humorous” or “friendly” but may have led others to become uncomfortable.
Constituents launched an online petition to oust married dad-of-two McDonald from his Aberdeen Donside seat after he quit the ministerial role on Saturday.
And the SNP were criticised for refusing to spell out exactly what he had been accused of in the wake of the ongoing sexual harassment scandal.
But senior sources yesterday revealed that McDonald had made one comment which was intended as humour but caused offence.
They insisted there was nothing physical and the incident was not criminal in nature.
It’s understood the remarks were made as sexual “banter”, leading to a complaint by one woman.
McDonald was one of two SNP members investigated by the party over possible misconduct after the Record stunned Holyrood last week by publishing claims that sexual harassment is “rife”.
The other complaint being investigated by the SNP does not relate to a parliamentarian.
The SNP’s Westminster group leader Ian Blackford yesterday insisted McDonald, right, had made an “unreserved apology” and revealed the “case is now closed”.
He said the party would have “zero tolerance” for any form of sexual harassment or bullying, and said politicians must “show that we’re taking the lead on this”.
The revelations came as Kezia Dugdale called for members of Holyrood’s all-male governing body to resign in the wake of the scandal.
The all-party Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body oversee the running, staffing and financing of parliament.
But there is unhappiness that all five members are men. The presiding
officer and chief executive of the parliament are also men – meaning no women are in senior leadership or management roles.
In a letter to the group yesterday, Dugdale called for all five to resign so a new process could be put in place to guarantee female representation.
The Lothian MSP believes it is necessary in light of revelations about harassment of women at Holyrood.
She said: “The revelations of the past fortnight bring a sharper focus
to the decision making bodies within the parliament, notably the SPCB and the Parliamentary Bureau.
“Given these bodies set policy on issues related to the running of the parliament, it’s no longer tenable for it to be an all-male domain.”
Dugdale proposed that at least three of the five MSPs be female as the presiding officer Ken Macintosh is also male. Her call was echoed by Scottish Government business manager Joe FitzPatrick, who suggested the corporate body’s membership could be changed or increased to “broaden its membership”.
All nine of the questions tabled for the group’s regular question session scheduled at Holyrood on Thursday relate to sexual harassment.
A confidential hotline for victims to report sexual harassment at Holyrood opened yesterday.