SNP SLEAZE: THE STENCH GROWS

Minister who quit over lewd behaviour suspended by party Multiple new claims about MSP’s ‘frightening’ actions Sturgeon in dock for ‘brushing off’ original complaint

SHAMED former S NP minister Mark McDonald was last night suspended from the party after several women raised concerns about his ‘frightening’ behaviour.

The MSP was forced to resign from Nicola Sturgeon’s government 13 days ago when it was revealed he had caused ‘considerable distress and upset’ after sending a l ewd text message to a woman.

Incredibly, the First Minister gave the former childcare minister her backing following the revelations, describing him as a ‘good MSP’ and raising doubts over whether his behaviour was ‘serious enough’ to resign over.

Since stepping down the married father of two has failed to return to Holyrood, and said he is now seeking help to change his behaviour while asking for a ‘chance to change’.

But last night it was revealed fresh concerns had been raised and Mr McDonald has been suspended from the SNP parliamentary group

and party while an investigation is carried out. According to one source ‘several’ women, and ‘as many as seven’, have now come forward – with one claiming to have been ‘frightened’ by Mr McDonald’s behaviour.

An SNP spokesman said: ‘ Following new information being received by the SNP over the course of the last 24 hours relating to the behaviour of Mark McDonald, he has been suspended from both the parliamentary group and the party while further investigation takes place.

‘In the interests of due process and appropriate confidentiality no further comment will be made.’

Meanwhile, opponents questioned Miss Sturgeon’s support for the MSP. A Scottish Conservative spokesman said: ‘It was clear from the outset there were many more questions hanging over this case.

‘Nicola Sturgeon brushed those concerns off and must now be questioning her own judgment over the whole fiasco.’

Initially, Mr McDonald claimed that his resignation from the Scottish cabinet on November 4 was due to his attempt at humour, which may have been interpreted in a way which caused offence.

But it has since been revealed that the complaint was made by a woman who claimed to have received a lewd text message from Mr McDonald. It is understood it is claimed to have included details of a sex act.

SNP and Scottish Government chiefs have refused to go into detail about complaints made despite Mr McDonald resigning as a minister and having the party whip removed.

His suspension was announced hours after media organisations, including the Scottish Daily Mail, approached the SNP following reports a fresh complaint had been made.

Initially, the party said it had no knowledge of additional concerns, but later issued a press release revealing Mr McDonald had been suspended.

The move comes days after Miss Sturgeon backed Mr McDonald, and he suggested that he could make a comeback to her cabinet i n the future.

In what now looks like an embarrassing intervention from the SNP leader, last week she said: ‘Mark has reflected and taken responsibility for behaviour that some others may well have thought was not serious enough to resign but he’s done the right [thing] and taken responsibility…

‘Questions hanging over this case’

He’s a good MSP and he will continue to be so.’

Women’s equality groups had already called on Miss Sturgeon to suspend him.

The Women’s Equality Party had questioned the decision to allow Mr McDonald to continue working as a member of the Scottish parliament despite him deeming himself unworthy of remaining as a minister.

Miss Sturgeon had rejected any suggestion that Mr McDonald should quit his post as MSP for Aberdeen Donside, a move which would spark a by-election.

As fresh allegations were made to party chiefs Mr McDonald continued with work in his constituency yesterday, visiting a local primary school before heading to his office where he was met by journalists.

He told them that he had stepped aside f rom his government role because he ‘felt it was not appropriate for me to continue in my role as a minister’.

But he said that he would stay on as an MSP and his constituents would ‘decide at the next election whether they wish to continue to have me as their representatives at the parliament’.

Mr McDonald said that he had now reflected on his behaviour, and had ‘apologised profusely’ for his actions.

He added: ‘ Now I am seeking to change how I behave, and I believe people should be given a chance to change.

‘I have asked for that chance and I hope my constituents will give me that chance.’

Last night, Mr McDonald said: ‘I have not been advised of any details relating to the information received by the party but I stand ready to fully cooperate with any investigation into this matter.

‘I will make no further comment at this time and would ask that due process be allowed to take its course and that the privacy of my staff and my family is respected and that they be allowed to go about their daily lives without obstruction.’