Questions raised over relationship with convicted fraudster Barclay
A CONVICTED embezzler’s friendship with Scotland’s Finance Secretary is raising questions in political circles.
High-profile charity campaigner Scott Barclay – who last week admitted stealing £10,000 from a Glasgow bank – has enjoyed nights out with Derek MacKay, who he called“best mate” in one social media post.
And it has been claimed that Barclay utilised his friendship with MacKay to gain access to the highest levels of the Scottish Government.
The 37-year-old’s charity work has seen him rubbing shoulders with a host of other politicians and influential Scottish figures.
He has documented his friendship with MacKay through social media in recent years, posting pictures of them at charity events, sharing lunch and on a night out in a Glasgow gay bar – which he captioned “best mates” and “mate date”.
A spokesman for MacKay said last night: “Derek knows Mr Barclay and has socialised with him previously. He only became aware of Mr Barclay’s conviction after it was reported in the press.”
A source said MacKay was “unwittingly used” to add “legitimacy” to Barclay’s reputation as a charity champion.
They said: “Barclay had made his personal friendship with MacKay known over the course of the employment.”
At Glasgow Sheriff Court last week, Barclay, who wed his partner David in Scotland’s first same sex marriage in 2014, admitted embezzling cash last year from the TSB branch where he worked.
His lawyer told the court he needed cash to pay off a blackmailer.
Glasgow sheriff Gerard Bonnar ordered him to do 250 hours’ unpaid work.
Barclay worked for Epilepsy Scotland as a corporate fundraiser from May 2015 and won an award for his campaigning. But he left the post just under a year later.
Epilepsy Scotland said they were “distressed” about the embezzlement but were unable to comment on the circumstances of his departure.
Barclay last night denied he had a close friendship with MacKay. He said: “We are acquaintances at best. I wouldn’t really say I had some great friendship with him at all. He is definitely not my ‘best mate’.
“I haven’t tried to exploit any relationship with him. Someone has sent out an anonymous email about this in order to be malicious.”