Police investigating shamed ex-minister speak to SNP activist
AN SNP activist who claims he was targeted with unwanted messages and demands for ‘naughty pics’ by Derek Mackay has spoken to police.
Shaun Cameron went to St Leonards police station in Edinburgh yesterday for a meeting with officers.
The 25-year-old gave details of the messages he claims were sent from the disgraced former finance minister.
Mr Cameron said he had been pestered with messages by Mr Mackay for years after being approached by him in 2016 at an SNP fundraiser.
The activist was seen entering the police station at 2.45pm. It is believed his meeting lasted an hour and he was then smuggled out of the back door.
Police Scotland is assessing whether to launch a criminal investigation into Mr Mackay’s online activities.
It is understood officers have spoken to a 16-year-old boy after it emerged Mr Mackay sent him 270 messages on social media.
Pressure continued to mount on Mr Mackay to be sacked as an MSP as politicians made fresh calls for a recall law, which would allow voters to oust their MSP.
The 42-year-old resigned as finance secretary hours before he was due to deliver the Budget last Thursday after the messages were published.
Speaking to the Daily Record yesterday, Mr Cameron said: ‘The police’s child services branch got in touch with me on Friday.
‘They would like me to give a statement and want to assess whether a crime has been comheard mitted. I told them I was more than happy to help.’
Last week, Mr Cameron said that when he was 21, Mr Mackay had sent him ‘quite suggestive’ messages. In one message, Mr Mackay was said to have asked: ‘Got any naughty pics?’
The SNP has suspended the MSP for Renfrewshire North and
‘I was more than happy to help’
West pending a party inquiry into his conduct.
Nicola Sturgeon told an audience in Brussels he would be ‘reflecting’ on whether he should remain as an MSP. Asked about the scandal at a Q&A session, Miss Sturgeon said she had not from police in relation to allegations facing Mr Mackay.
Her comments came only 24 hours after SNP deputy leader Keith Brown said it was ‘very difficult’ to see how Mr Mackay could remain at Holyrood.
The Scottish Lib Dems yesterday launched a bid to bring in recall measures to the Scottish parliament. Westminster passed such legislation in 2015.
Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie tried to bring in a Holyrood recall law in 2018, but this was rejected by the standards committee. After the disclosures about Mr Mackay, Mr Rennie said: ‘I want MSPs to know serious and harmful behaviour could lead to the ultimate sanction of them losing their job.’
Meanwhile, SNP councillor Jean McClung yesterday apologised after saying Mr Mackay was the victim of a ‘honey trap’ set by the ‘British establishment’.
On Facebook last week, she said: ‘Stupid man! Probably a “honey trap” set by the British establishment and he walked right into it! Feel so sorry for the child caught up in it all.’ The Saltcoats councillor later deleted the message.
Yesterday, she told the Ardrossan Herald: ‘To set the record straight, I absolutely condemn the actions of Derek Mackay and my heart goes out to the boy involved and his family.
‘I have stated this position previously on social media, and have also stated that I believe Derek Mackay should resign as an MSP.
‘I made a stupid comment in the heat of the moment about external involvement of the British state and for that I apologise unreservedly.’