EXCLUSIVE: Derek Mackay stripped of BB role
Last updated 12th Feb 2020
Clyde News can reveal Derek Mackay's being stripped of his position with the Boys' Brigade.
We told you on Thursday that his role as honorary Vice President of the Paisley and district battalion was under review following his resignation as Finance Minister for messages he sent to a 16 year old boy including one telling him he was cute.
Our reporter Andy Bargh told us: "This order has came from the top of the Boys' Brigade.
"There was meant to be a meeting next month between the district executives to decide whether or not to keep Mackay involved, but the instruction to remove him comes from headquarters, so he’s been informed by letter that his position as Honorary VP is untenable due to conduct in his private life
"He was also thanked for his help over the ten years he held the position."
Opposition politicians at Holyrood have been demanding Mr Mackay also resign as an MSP, branding his behaviour as predatory'' and grooming''.
He quit as finance secretary just hours before he had been due to deliver Holyrood's budget for the coming year, after the Scottish Sun reported he had sent 270 messages to a 16-year-old he befriended on Facebook and Instagram.
The 42-year-old politician, who came out as gay in 2013, is reported to have offered to take the boy to a rugby game and out to dinner.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed to MSPs at Holyrood on Thursday that she had accepted Mr Mackay's resignation from government, saying his behaviour had fallen seriously below the standard required of a minister''.
The teenager involved has spoken to officers from Police Scotland with the force saying what while it had not received any complaint of criminality about Mr Mackay it was assessing available information''.