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left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)
Thu Feb 6, 2020, 12:29 PM Feb 2020

Scotland's finance chief quits over messages to teenage boy

Scotland’s finance minister resigned Thursday after revelations he had reportedly sent hundreds of messages to a 16-year-old boy on social media. Derek Mackay, who was due to deliver his annual budget on Thursday, said he had “behaved foolishly and I am truly sorry. I apologize unreservedly to the individual involved and his family,” MacKay said in a statement.

The Scottish Sun newspaper reported that 42-year-old Mackay sent the teen more than 270 messages on Facebook and Instagram, telling the boy he was “cute” and offering to take him to a rugby match and to dinner. Mackay is not accused of breaking the law. But Scottish Labour Party leader Richard Leonard said his behavior had been “nothing short of predatory” and "an abuse of power.”

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Mackay had also been suspended from the governing Scottish National Party. She said his behavior was “unacceptable and falls seriously below the standard required of a minister.”

Mackay was a rising star in the SNP, which runs Scotland’s semi-autonomous Edinburgh-based administration. He had been seen as a potential successor to Sturgeon as leader of the party, which advocates independence from the United Kingdom for the nation of 5.5 million.

His resignation is another blow to the party that is already facing scandal. Sturgeon's predecessor as first minister, Alex Salmond, is due to stand trial next month on charges including sexual assault and attempted rape against 10 women.

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/scotlands-finance-chef-quits-messages-teenager-68795023

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Scotland's finance chief quits over messages to teenage boy (Original Post) left-of-center2012 Feb 2020 OP
I swear when will these horndog men EVER LEARN that nothing is private and it WILL get out. CurtEastPoint Feb 2020 #1
Not to worry. He can always become a priest. 3Hotdogs Feb 2020 #2

CurtEastPoint

(18,552 posts)
1. I swear when will these horndog men EVER LEARN that nothing is private and it WILL get out.
Thu Feb 6, 2020, 12:32 PM
Feb 2020

I don't care what you do but be prepared to take the lumps. And stick to adults, wouldja?

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