SNP minister who ‘groomed’ boy quits hours before Budget
THE Scottish finance minister tipped to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader was forced to resign yesterday hours before he was due to deliver the Scottish Budget after “grooming” a 16-yearold schoolboy.
Derek Mackay, 42, contacted the teenager on social media and exchanged 270 messages, telling him he was “cute” and inviting him for dinner.
In one conversation, the senior MSP, who has a son of a similar age to the teenager, asked “are our chats between us?” before telling the schoolboy: “I think you are really cute.”
Police Scotland last night encouraged anyone with information on Mr Mackay’s behaviour to come forward, as they were having to rely on media reports to assess whether his behaviour was potentially criminal.
The revelations threw Holyrood into chaos, as Mr Mackay had been due to deliver Scotland’s £43 billion Budget hours after the accusations were published in The Sun.
Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister, was left no choice but to pass the responsibility to Kate Forbes, public finance minister, after Mr Mackay resigned immediately, admitting that he had “behaved foolishly”.
Ms Forbes was told on Wednesday night she would be delivering the Budget, giving the 29-year-old a mere 14 hours to prepare.
“I take full responsibility for my actions,” Mr Mackay said in a statement.
“I apologise unreservedly to the individual involved and his family.” Mr Mackay randomly befriended the boy, who told the former minister how old he was, over Instagram and Facebook last August after offering to take him to a rugby game.
In another conversation, Mr Mackay asked the schoolboy to help him deliver campaign leaflets and invited him to stay for dinner.
Mr Mackay, a father of two, separated from his wife in 2013 and now lives with his boyfriend. The First Minister was made aware of the messages late on Wednesday when she spoke with Mr Mackay in his parliamentary office, upon which he offered his resignation.
He was suspended from the SNP yesterday morning when Ms Sturgeon read the full content of the messages. Despite his actions, Mr Mackay will be entitled a £11,945 payment after resigning from his post.
On Wednesday evening, the 16-year-old boy said: “He should be made to apologise, not just to me but to everyone else who has been let down by this.”