‘We’ll change the law to sack him’
MSPs set to use ‘recall’ to axe shamed McDonald
SHAMED former SNP Minister Mark McDonald faces the threat of being ‘sacked’ from Holyrood.
Amid mounting ‘anger and frustration’ at his refusal to stand down, legislation is set to be introduced giving politicians and voters the power to remove disgraced MSPs.
Westminster introduced ‘power of recall’ in 2015 and plans will now be considered for similar legislation in Scotland.
Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie will outline a private member’s Bill when he meets other party leaders later this week, with Labour and the Tories also keen to see changes.
Former Childcare Minister Mr McDonald quit the SNP after an internal inquiry found he sent
‘I am hopeful all parties would back this plan’
AN overwhelming 93 per cent of Mark McDonald’s constituents believe he should step down as an MSP, according to a snapshot survey of 100 people carried out by The Scottish Mail on Sunday.
Last week, on the streets of the Mastrick area of Aberdeen, where he has his constituency office, one local who took a problem to him said: ‘He came over as arrogant, aloof and dismissive of us. We eventually walked out as we were wasting our time. His secretary came out to the street after us and apologised for his behaviour.’
‘inappropriate and unwanted text messages’ and ‘exploited his position of power’. But he refused to stand down from his £62,000-a-year job as MSP for Aberdeen Donside.
He now faces a Holyrood probe after MSP James Dornan complained he subjected one of his staff to a campaign of ‘harassment and sexual innuendo’. If that complaint is upheld, the standards, procedures and public appointments committee could suspend him.
Under the Power of Recall Bill proposed by Mr Rennie, such a suspension would be grounds for a petition of Aberdeen Donside constituents on whether he should stay or be forced to fight a by-election.
Mr Rennie said: ‘Action is required as it is unacceptable for Mark McDonald to continue as an MSP. I am hopeful MSPs of all parties would back this plan.’
Mr Rennie said the need for Holyrood to have powers to expel MSPs had been highlighted in 2013 when former Nationalist MSP Bill Walker refused to quit after being convicted of domestic abuse. Ironically, Mr McDonald signed a motion urging him to go.
A Scottish Labour Party spokesman said: ‘Mark McDonald’s behaviour has clearly been unacceptable and he should stand down.
‘We support the principle of recall and will work with other parties to see how it could work in practice. Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard would be happy to meet Willie Rennie to discuss his plans.’
A Scottish Tory spokesman said: ‘If the last few weeks have taught us anything, it’s that a system needs to be created to ensure this doesn’t happen again.
‘But if a system of recall is pursued, we have to be extremely careful about the circumstances under which this can activated.’
The Scottish Greens said they would await the outcome of a probe by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland before deciding whether to back Mr Rennie’s Bill.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Any proposals in relation to the operation of the parliament and the rules around MSPs, including the right of recall or the disqualification of members, would be for parliament to take forward.’
Mr Rennie says 10 or 20 per cent of constituents signing a petition would be enough to sack an MSP.
But democracy campaigners urged caution. Alexandra Runswick, director of the Unlock Democracy campaign, said: ‘I support recall but, if it is going to happen, it needs to involve more than 10 per cent of voters. That would be far too open to abuse and even attempts to rerun an election.’
Mr McDonald declined to comment.