KEEP SLEAZE ROW MSP OUT OF HOLYROOD

After minister’s victim reveals her terrifying ordeal, MSPs spark new probe and tell parliament officials:

SHAMED former minister Mark McDonald will today face a fresh investigation into his conduct that could result in him being banned from the Scottish parliament.

The MSP – who quit the SNP after allegations of sexual misconduct – is expected to be subjected to an official Holyrood inquiry amid growing demands from colleagues that he should not be allowed to return to work tomorrow.

A formal complaint is to be submitted to the Scottish parliament today by a Nationalist MSP who has revealed that one of his female employees was a victim of Mr McDonald.

The woman is said to have been so tormented by his ‘inappropriate’ behaviour that she had to take six months off work and ended up in hospital.

Mr McDonald was yesterday accused by the SNP of causing ‘additional distress’ to his victims by trying to repair his tarnished reputation in a magazine interview.

Holyrood sources indicated that a ‘robust’

probe will be launched as soon as the complaint from James Dornan is submitted. It could culminate in Mr McDonald being barred from entering the Scottish parliament building.

He is due to return to Holyrood – as an independent MSP for Aberdeen Donside – for the first time since complaints about him emerged four months ago.

An SNP investigation found he exploited his position and caused distress by sending inappropriate messages.

On top of Mr Dornan’s complaint, several other MSPs are expected to demand that Mr McDonald is barred from Holyrood. The married father of two has yet to be allocated an office amid concerns about him being based near any of his alleged victims.

Human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar, who is representing some of the women, said: ‘How shocking and grotesque that this individual will return to work.

‘This is the 21st century and if parliament is all about diversity and equality, it’s time parliament took the initiative. There should be a point of no return.’

Three women complained to the SNP about Mr McDonald but no complaint has yet been made to the parliament, meaning Holyrood chiefs have been powerless to prevent his return as an MSP. Mr Dornan’s formal objection will instantly trigger a full inquiry. A parliament source said that ‘any complaint would be robustly investigated’.

The SNP indicated it would be willing to share its findings with officials if they get the consent of the complainants.

If a complaint against an MSP is upheld, the Scottish parliament’s Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee can recommend sanctions.

It cannot sack an MSP but can withdraw a member’s right of access to the parliamentary complex. This would make it impossible for them to do their job, which could force them to resign.

The Sunday Times yesterday revealed fresh details about the SNP’s inquiry into Mr McDonald, including that he allegedly wrote a Facebook message stating:

‘You just had the misfortune to end up with an amoral a***hole of an MSP who can’t maintain a professional boundary with an intern who he finds incredibly interesting and attractive.’

Announcing his decision to submit a complaint, Glasgow Cathcart MSP Mr Dornan said: ‘Mark McDonald has no idea of, or apparent interest in, the damage he has caused his victims.

‘If he is such a reformed character like he now claims to be then he would do the decent thing and consider his position.

‘He should certainly never set foot in the Scottish parliament again.’

A Holyrood source said: ‘It’s all very well plastering the Scottish parliament lifts with posters about sexual harassment but what happens if he walks into a lift and happens to be in the same lift as one of the women who complained about him?’ Asked if the party would share its probe findings with the Scottish parliament, an SNP spokesman said: ‘We will be guided by the interests of those who have come forward with their experiences and will act in accordance with their wishes.’

He added: ‘If Mr McDonald understood the impact his actions have had on the women who raised complaints... he must surely be fully aware of the additional distress his pursuit of media attention will now generate.’

A Scottish parliament spokesman confirmed that the Standards Committee can recommend sanctions, saying this ‘usually’ happens after the upholding of a complaint against a member.

When approached yesterday, Mr McDonald’s wife said: ‘We are not commenting today.’