Police to ‘assess’ messages as SNP left stunned by finance chief resignation

POLICE are looking into the circumstances that led Derek Mackay to resign from one of the top jobs in the Scottish Government. Mr Mackay, tipped as the next SNP leader, quit after it was revealed he had been messaging a 16-year-old schoolboy over a period of seven months.

He had told the boy he was “cute” and offered to pay to take him to a rugby match after the boy said he couldn’t afford to go.

In one message he asked if the messages were private and even invited him to dinner.

Mr Mackay offered his resignation to Nicola Sturgeon on Wednesday night when it became clear it was to be reported.

Ms Sturgeon accepted and

aLeonard said the actions were not foolish but “predatory”.

He said: “Derek Mackay has acted beyond ‘foolishly’, his actions are predatory and must be thoroughly investigated. He has abused his position of power with a vulnerable adolescent.

“The thoughts of everyone at Scottish Labour are with the schoolboy involved and his family.

“The nature and the gravity of these allegations demands decisive action.”

Mr Mackay is alleged to have sent 270 messages on Instagram and Facebook between August 2, last year, and February 1.

They continued even after the boy revealed he was still in school, and then later said he was 16.

Mr Mackay replied “ah” but the messaging continued, including on Christmas Day. At 11.34pm on Christmas Day, the Cabinet Minister messaged the boy to ask: “You still up.”

In the early hours of December 27, in another conversation Mr Mackay again says: “You are looking good with that new haircut.”

He called the boy “cute”, adding: “You don’t mind compliments.”

The teenager replies: “Not all.”

At one point, Mr Mackay asks “And our chats are between us?” When the teenager said yes he then sent one that read: “Cool, to be honest I think you are really cute.

“Is that ok? Just as long as you know, but you can delete that message lol.”

Ms Sturgeon said he had been suspended from the SNP and an investigation would take place. She said: “I want to make clear I do not condone in any shape or form conduct of this nature.”

Responding to questions at Holyrood she said: “I think the conduct is unacceptable and I will not make any attempt to say otherwise or to minimise in any way its seriousness.

“Based on what I knew about this last night, it was clear to me then that Derek Mackay’s conduct fell far short of what is expected of a minister.

“Indeed, he offered his resignation to me and I accepted. It was not an option for him to remain in Government.” at

DEREK Mackay has lost his finance position and is no longer tipped as the next First Minister. Now locals in his constituency are asking how long he will be their MSP.

While Mr Mackay may not have risen to prominence at national level until becoming transport minister in 2014, he has been a fixture of Renfrewshire politics for more than 20 years.

First elected to Renfrewshire Council in 1999 at the age of 21, he became council leader eight years later and entered the Scottish Parliament in 2011 as the first MSP for the new Renfrewshire North and West constituency, which he still holds.

Raised in Renfrew, he still lives within the bounds of the area he serves, which stretches into parts of Paisley and covers several villages.

His popularity in the area saw his vote share grow by almost 6% in 2016, when he increased his majority to more than 7300. But members of the public told us the schoolboy text revelations had cost him their votes. And, speaking on the condition of anonymity, local party figures and former colleagues said they don’t know how long he can stay in office.

One said: “The pressure to resign is going to be almost impossible to resist. I’d be very surprised if he’ll bear this out. The next Scottish Parliament elections are only a year away, but a year is a long time in politics and a very long time having to carry out surgeries and go to events under these circumstances.

“Even going to Parliament, he’d have a pack of hounds with cameras following his every move. I don’t know how you can keep going under those circumstances. I would have put money on him becoming First Minister. I’m glad I didn’t.”

Mr Mackay had been regarded as one of the frontrunners to succeed Nicola Sturgeon when she leaves the SNP leadership role she’s held since 2014. Yesterday she told the Scottish Parliament Mr Mackay had been suspended from the party and an investigation into the schoolboy text reports will be held.

“We all do daft things, but not like this,” said an insider. “It’s not as if it was once or twice, it was hundreds of messages. It’s hard to take in.”

That incredulity was shared with some