A year on and £155,000 richer, the shamed Finance Minister who was forced to resign

SHAMED former Finance Secretary Derek Mackay will pocket more than £155,000 from the taxpayer by the time he finally steps down in May.

Opposition MSPs say it is outrageous that he has been allowed to ride the Holyrood ‘gravy train’ at the public’s expense while many families are struggling financially during the pandemic.

Mr Mackay resigned from Nicola Sturgeon’s front bench last February after it emerged he had bombarded a 16-yearold boy with 270 messages.

He was suspended by the SNP but remained as an independent MSP – though he has not appeared in person or virtually at Holyrood, or held constituency surgeries.

Last night, his office insisted he had continued to work as an MSP and had assisted in more than 800 cases.

Although he was forced to resign from the SNP, the party failed to engineer a by-election, allowing him to continue as MSP for Renfrewshire North and West.

As a result, over the 15 months since he disappeared from public view, to when he is expected to finally stand down in May, he will have received almost £155,000.

That will include £80,588 in salary, £11,945 for standing down as a Cabinet Secretary, a £53,725 golden goodbye and £8,580 in expenses.

Tory MSP Graham Simpson is proposing a ‘Mackay’s Law’ to get rid of absentee MSPs.

He said: ‘The fact that Derek Mackay will pocket over £150,000 on the public purse is utterly appalling and shameful. His lack of humility over his behaviour shows exactly why we need to introduce my proposal of Mackay’s Law. That will allow MSPs who don’t turn up for their work to be kicked out of parliament.’

Scottish Labour interim leader Jackie Baillie said: .‘It’s time for the SNP to act and to kick Derek MacKay off the gravy train he has been riding for almost a year.’

Mr Mackay’s office would not be drawn on whether he would stand as an independent candidate in May, but that is thought highly unlikely.

A spokesman said: ‘Mr Mackay and his office are continuing to provide a constituency service, having helped in more than 800 cases on behalf of constituents during the last 12 months, and all expenditure complies with Scottish parliament rules.’