Critics pile pressure on shamed minister to quit
Growing calls for sleaze row McDonald to resign as MSP
A SHAMED former SNP minister was under growing pressure to step down as an MSP last night after a sleaze probe into his ‘inappropriate’ behaviour.
Mark McDonald quit the party after an investigation which concluded he had caused distress to women.
However, the former childcare minister sparked fury when he refused to step down as MSP for Aberdeen Donside.
SNP bosses have been urged to hand the findings of their report to ‘authorities’ including parliament chiefs and the police in an attempt to force him out.
It comes amid concerns over the distress his return to Holyrood next week could cause to victims.
Labour Highland and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant said: ‘Mark McDonald decided his conduct was not fit for a minister or an SNP MSP but somehow it is acceptable for an MSP without party affiliation.
‘People in Aberdeen Donside and across Scotland will rightly question that – and the Scottish parliament should too.’
Senior Nationalist MP Kirsty Blackman, who rose through the ranks with Mr McDonald after they were elected to Aberdeen City Council in 2007, also called on him to quit his job. The Aberdeen North MP said: ‘Mark McDonald was elected as an SNP MSP.
‘As he has now resigned from the SNP he should also resign his parliamentary seat. His constituents should have the chance to make an informed choice about who will represent them at Holyrood.’
Lawyer Aamer Anwar is among those demanding a full parliamentary investigation into Mr McDonald’s conduct. He is representing women who have suffered sexual harassment at Holyrood and asked officials to consider how complainants will feel if they meet Mr McDonald in a lift or corridor.
Mr Anwar said: ‘I can see no reason why anyone who complained about him should be forced to put up with him for one second longer in their place of work.
‘For far too long political parties in parliament and local government have lived with a culture of self-denial on the issue of sexual harassment.’
Mr Anwar added: What we need to see is a radical independent overhaul of the system if they are genuinely serious about tackling the issue of sexual harassment.’
Mr McDonald quit the SNP on Tuesday, more than 120 days after stepping down from Nicola Sturgeon’s government when an initial complaint was made about his behaviour.
He told the media an investigation had ruled he caused ‘upset, discomfort or offence’ to women and that this behaviour spanned an extended period of time.
The probe also concluded that the father of two had exploited his position of power by sending inappropriate and unwanted text and social media messages.
Holyrood officials can only open an investigation if they receive a complaint under the MSP code of conduct, or if the SNP passes on its inquiry findings. It is understood the complainants would have to ask for this to happen.
The Scottish Tories have urged the SNP to hand over the findings to the ‘relevant authorities’ including the parliament and police.
A Scottish Tory spokesman said: ‘The SNP has taken an extremely murky approach to this saga, lurching from giving Mark McDonald its full support to now calling for his head.’
Last night the SNP declined to comment.
‘He should resign his seat’