Sleaze-row SNP minister must resign as MSP, says Sturgeon
●Mark Mcdonald admits inappropriate behaviour towards women after inquiry
Nicola Sturgeon has called on an MSP at the centre of a sleaze row to quit Holyrood after a damning inquiry found he pestered women with “unwanted” attention and sent them inappropriate text messages.
Mark Mcdonald, who has already quit as a government minister, announced his resignation from the SNP yesterday but said he intends to stay on as an independent MSP.
He issued an “unreserved apology” to three women who complained about his conduct and said he has been seeing a behaviour coach.
But the First Minister quickly backed opposition calls for the former children’s minister to resign his Holyrood seat and give his constituents in Aberdeen Donside the chance to elect a new MSP.
Ms Sturgeon said: “The SNP cannot force Mark Mcdonald to stand down as an MSP. So it’s a matter for him.
“My view is clear – he was elected as an SNP MSP and if his behaviour was such that he himself considers that he cannot continue as an SNP MSP then it would be appropriate to give his constituents the opportunity to elect a new MSP.”
Mr Mcdonald’s resignation from the party came on the eve of a scheduled disciplinary vote by his Holyrood colleagues to determine his future in the SNP group.
There is no suggestion that his behaviour was serious enough to merit a police investigation.
But his decision to remain prompted an angry reaction from opposition MSPS who questioned how his behaviour could be bad enough to prompt his resignation from the SNP but not parliament.
Tory MSP Alexander Burnett said: “Many people will rightly be questioning why Mark Mcdonald thinks that his behaviour was bad enough to resign from the SNP, but not to resign from the Scottish Parliament
“He is clearly prioritising the reputation of the SNP over that of Holyrood, and it’s simply not good enough.”
Mr Mcdonald announced his resignation in a statement he delivered in Aberdeen, where he refused to take questions. He said his behaviour