Toothless over sex pest claims

THE Mark McDonald scandal has proved the Scottish Parliament’s procedures for dealing with sexual harassment cases are not fit for purpose.

Senior SNP MSP James Dornan yesterday tabled an astonishing catalogue of complaints about his former colleague’s behaviour to a female member of his staff.

McDonald quit the SNP last week after an internal party investigation identified “persistent” inappropriate behaviour.

If McDonald had a shred of decency, he would stand down as an MSP. Instead he is insisting he will return to work at Holyrood today – in the same building as his alleged victims.

Incredibly, Parliament bosses say they can do nothing about Dornan’s complaint until the standards committee meet on Thursday.

In any other workplace, McDonald would not be allowed to return until the allegation had been thoroughly investigated.

At Holyrood, he is being furnished with a new office in the basement and journalists are being warned not to look for it.

Earlier this month, Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh apologised after a survey found one fifth of Parliament staff had suffered sexual harassment.

He promised to ensure “a zero tolerance approach” is “not simply a policy statement but is a daily reality for those who work here”.

Macintosh is a decent man and we do not doubt his sincerity.

But he’s certainly got his work cut out.