New law would force MSPs to quit if they fail to turn up for parliament
Shamed politician Mackay prompts calls for change
The absence of disgraced Renfrewshire MSP Derek Mackay has prompted calls for a new law which would force “invisible” politicians to resign their seat if they fail to turn up at the Scottish Parliament for six months.
The Scottish Conservatives want to bring in the new law following the continued absence from Holyrood of former SNP minister Derek Mackay, who quit his Scottish Government position in February and hasn’t contributed to parliamentary business since.
Mackay now sits as an independent MSP for Renfrewshire North and West after he sensationally resigned as Scotland’s finance secretary just hours before he was due to deliver his annual budget statement to MSPs.
The shock move was announced as it was revealed the former minister sent 270 messages to a schoolboy on social media.
Among the 270 messages sent, Mackay urged the boy to keep the chats between them private and called the teen “cute” before suggesting he should delete the message.
The 42- year- old MSP invited the boy to dinner and to attend a rugby event.
The former Renfrewshire Council leader also messaged SNP activist Shaun Cameron, who subsequently revealed he had been hounded online by Mr Mackay despite only meeting him once at a fundraising dinner in 2016.
One of the messages Mr Cameron received from the politician asked him for “naughty pics”.
He hasn’t contributed to the Scottish Parliament - either in person or remotely - in six months.
The Tories now plan to introduce a private members bill to force “invisible” MSPs to quit.
The so-called “Mackay’s law” would mean that any MSP who failed to show up to Holyrood for six months could no longer remain as a member of the Scottish Parliament, similar to the rules in many local councils.
Graham Simpson, the Scottish Conservat i v e s’ t ransport spokesman said: “Most councils have rules on this and if Derek Mackay was a councillor and hadn’t done his job for six months then he would have been drummed out.
“But there are no rules covering MSPs’ attendance, which means they can do nothing and pocket the cash.
“In theory, you could act like Derek Mackay is currently doing for five years.
“That is just wrong.
“If you are elected to the Scottish Parliament you should be a worker not a shirker.
“Nothing else should be allowed. “If Mr Mackay had any honour left he would stand down now and allow the people of Renfrewshire North and West to elect someone who will properly represent them.”
The ex-minister has still been picking up his taxpayer-funded £63,579-a-year pay packet and is also eligible for a £12,000 severance payment for no longer serving in Nicola Sturgeon’s cabinet.
If he continues as the MSP until the next Holyrood elections, he will be entitled to around £50,000 as a “resettlement grant”.
However all his surgeries in his local constituency have been cancelled since he quit his cabinet post after it was revealed he had bombarded the teenager with unwanted messages.
Mackay has been unavailable for comment since he made an apology to the boy and his family.
His website - which offered details on how constituents could be helped by their MSP - has also been taken offline.
The Express has contacted the SNP for comment.
There are no rules covering MSPs’ attendance which means they can do nothing and pocket the cash