The paper also quotes the boy's mother calling for Mr Mackay to be removed from his post. Mackay shared cosy snaps on social media of the couple relaxing in idyllic Fuerteventura — but was privately contacting the teen. Building trust is a key tactic in grooming, and this can be appearing to have the same interests as the young person such as games and apps and offering advice or showing empathy and understanding. The former SNP finance secretary, 42, pestered the 16-year-old on Facebook from his winter getaway with boyfriend Fraser Bell, 35. VideoHow does the new US child tax credit measure up? Experts assess AstraZeneca blood clot reports1, Mozambique militants 'beheading children'2, Kim Jong-un's sister to US: Don't 'cause a stink'3, UK to shift foreign policy focus after review4, Jet fuel from waste 'drastically lowers' emissions5, France to return Klimt artwork sold during Nazi era6, 'I lost £400,000 to fake Elon Musk giveaway scam'8, Catholic Church 'cannot bless same-sex unions'9, Hundreds at new Everard vigil despite Patel's plea10. This is a calamity, without caveat, for Derek Mackay, for the SNP, for the first minister and for the collective Scottish government. A note saying a message has been deleted showed up on Facebook messenger at this point. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. The holiday messages were sent just days after physio Fraser celebrated his 35th birthday. Please DM us on Twitter or use our contact form to become verifed on ICDb. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Derek Mackay: police speak to boy sent messages by MSP This article is more than 8 months old Teenager tells paper he believes politician’s actions were wrong, but not a crime 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Challenges over public policy, most notably in education and the NHS. One must also express sympathy for the youth who apparently received unwarranted and unwanted attention, together with his family. But Mackay was undeterred and followed it up the next day with another text at 9.35pm. “That is not normal behaviour and it’s very worrying.”. Share. Interim Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw called on Mr Mackay to also stand down from the Scottish Parliament, saying his behaviour could "constitute the grooming of a young individual". Lol.”. It’s an amazing time to be involved.”, The teenager told the Nats big-hitter: “I’m going on holiday on Wednesday so I’ll probably come after that.” Mackay replied: “Cool. UK to shift foreign policy focus after review, Jet fuel from waste 'drastically lowers' emissions, France to return Klimt artwork sold during Nazi era, Catholic Church 'cannot bless same-sex unions', Hundreds at new Everard vigil despite Patel's plea, said that Derek Mackay contacted the schoolboy, Brian Taylor: Mackay resignation a calamity for government. The boy’s outraged mum said: “I don’t understand why he was sending messages to my son when he was on holiday. Just as long as you know but you can delete that message. Evidence also suggests that Mackay messaged the lad from one of his regular trips to a branch of Pure Gym in Paisley. And Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said Mr Mackay's actions had been "an abuse of power" and "nothing short of predatory". Mr Mackay, who has been widely tipped as a future first minister, came out as gay when he left his wife in 2013. Derek Mackay QUITS and apologises after bombarding schoolboy with creepy messages and called him 'cute' Schoolboy, 16, told Derek Mackay … But all of this comes amid an amalgam of challenges for the Scottish government and the SNP. "I spoke last night with the first minister and tendered my resignation with immediate effect. Long hair was getting annoying.”, Mackay wrote back: “Cute. 'I'M running this campaign on my own merits' – one of Derek Mackay's office staff has distanced herself from her boss as she launches a bid to replace him in Holyrood.. Councillor Natalie Don was on maternity leave when the schoolboy texting scandal that cost Mackay his Cabinet job broke. In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, she confirmed that he has been suspended by the SNP while further investigations are carried out. Weeks before the creepy messages were sent during their Atlantic Ocean break, Mackay revealed his holiday plans after telling the boy he could take him on a visit to Holyrood. DISGRACED former SNP minister, Derek Mackay, has continued to claim expenses for a home in Edinburgh despite stepping down from the role in February. ... Scotland @tannadicelad on Twitter. The schoolboy responded politely, telling the MSP: “As long as you’re not trying anything I don’t mind you being gay.”. Does Derek Mackay have a degree? Derek Mackay's departure is a calamity, without caveat, for his party, his government and his boss. We told how the conversations began last August when Mackay sent a private greeting to the lad — preparing to go into S5 at school — out of the blue. Discovering WW1 tunnel of death lost for a century. Save the Children says Islamist militants in Cabo Delgado have killed children as young as 11. Video, Meet the gay conscript who turned trauma into art, 'My family didn’t want me to exist' Video, How does the new US child tax credit measure up? The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. The SNP is planning to allow shamed former finance secretary Derek Mackay to resign as an MSP on grounds of ill health to ensure he can collect a £50,000 pay-off, it has been claimed. Mozambique militants 'beheading children'. SHAMED Derek Mackay sent secret late-night messages to a schoolboy during a sunshine holiday in the Canary Islands with his long-term partner, The Sun can reveal. Meet the gay conscript who turned trauma into art. At 2.38pm on December 28, Mackay messaged the boy, who was away visiting family. The budget was presented instead by public finance minister Kate Forbes. Published 6 February 2020. Winter sun.”, And when the teenager revealed that he was also going abroad, Mackay said: “Aw lovely.”. Today, he changed his surname on Facebook. It said an offence is committed if someone meets a young person who is under 16, having met or communicated with them with the intention of engaging in unlawful sexual activity. Derek Mackay has continued to claim expenses for accommodation in Edinburgh despite not having been seen at the Scottish Parliament since quitting as finance secretary in February. Asked by: Mackay, Derek, Renfrewshire North and West, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 14 November 2011 "To ask the Scottish Executive what penalties there are for private landlords who fail to maintain their properties at an acceptable standard and how they are enforced." Derek Mackay biography. The boy agreed and Mackay added: “Cool, then to be honest I think you are really cute. Derek Mackay: Twitter Bio: Journalist, apparently. Mar as tric, anns a' Ghàidhlig : Is this you? How Derek Mackay's meteoric career hid a double life of secrets and lies: A marriage exposed as a sham, a new life with his boyfriend and dark hints of hard partying and hangovers VideoMeet the gay conscript who turned trauma into art, 'My family didn’t want me to exist' Video'My family didn’t want me to exist', 'I lost £400,000 to fake Elon Musk giveaway scam', 1988 v 2021: A tale of two Myanmar protests, The racquet sport experiencing a pandemic boom, 'Electoral autocracy': Indian democracy downgraded, The South African who twice escaped Robben Island. How does the new US child tax credit measure up? Read about our approach to external linking. I apologise unreservedly to the individual involved and his family. The maximum penalty for the offence is 10 years imprisonment. SHAMED Derek Mackay sent secret late-night messages to a schoolboy during a sunshine holiday in the Canary Islands with his long-term partner, The … Derek MacKay resigned as Scotland’s Finance Secretary on the day he was due to deliver the Scottish Budget last year. Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005. Known Locations: Shawnee KS, 66226, Kansas City MO 64113, Choctaw OK 73020 Possible Relatives: Mandy J Burton, Alicia Nichole Mackay, Carl L Mackay He added: “Could you get the train to Edinburgh, I will cover your costs etc. Chris Musson, the political editor of the Scottish Sun, spoke to the Podlitical podcast about how the newspaper broke the Derek Mackay story, and what the boy and his family wanted to achieve by going public. Internal disquiet over how to proceed with indyref2. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Derek Mackay was on holiday with partner Fraser Bell while texting teen, Mr Mackay pestered teen with hundreds of messages, Mackay messaged the teen while on holiday in Canary Islands, Mackay sent late-night text to the teenager, We revealed Mackay had sent hundreds of messages to the boy, Nicola Sturgeon says Derek Mackay's conduct is 'unacceptable' as he is suspended from SNP, bombarded schoolboy, 16, with creepy texts and called him 'cute' despite knowing his age, warned the messages 'should be probed by cops', sensationally QUIT this morning and apologised. Do you have a story or video for The Scottish Sun? Kim Jong-un's sister to US: Don't 'cause a stink', Experts assess AstraZeneca blood clot reports, Meet the gay conscript who turned trauma into art. News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services. I have behaved foolishly and I am truly sorry. Read the full transcript of Derek Mackay's messages to 16-year-old schoolboy THE private Facebook and Instagram posts show a wave of contact between August 2, 2019, and last Saturday. Children and young people can be groomed online or in person by someone they know - or a stranger who may hide their real identity and age. On December 13, he wrote: “As I say if you ever want to visit parliament etc let me know. The force also asked for anyone with any information to contact them. News, sport. Derek Mackay (born 1977) is a Scottish politician who served as Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution from 2016 to 2018 and Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work from 2018 to 2020. Derek Mackay makes a speech during the SNP autumn conference in Aberdeen on 14 October 2019. In another exchange on Sunday, September 8, the boy claimed Mackay revealed his sexuality before deleting the post. The Scottish Sun has seen full details of the conversations which began on Thursday, August 2, 2019, when Mackay sent a “Hey” note at 8.18am via Instagram. Grooming was defined in Scots law as a criminal offence by the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005. Not only was Derek Mackay a key member of the Scottish cabinet, with responsibility for finance and the economy, he had also been tipped as a possible successor to Nicola Sturgeon. And a pending High Court trial. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. And our chats are between us?”. Answered by: Keith Brown on 23 November 2011 Derek Mackay admits he has "behaved foolishly" after a newspaper reports that he sent 270 messages to a 16-year-old boy. Mackay, Member of the Scottish Parliament — roughly equivalent to a state legislature in the United States — for Renfrewshire North & West and, until today, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy, and Fair Work in Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon’s devolved executive, bombarded the Glasgow schoolboy, 16, with messages on Instagram and Facebook after contacting … "Serving in government has been a huge privilege and I am sorry to have let colleagues and supporters down.". To be amply clear, there is no such vacancy at present. You don’t mind compliments.”, The boy then said: “Not at all.” Mackay then replied: “Good. Scottish government chief Nicola Sturgeon on Monday defended her handling of the scandal surrounding her former finance minister Derek Mackay, saying she would have sacked him over sending inappropriate messages to a 16-year-old boy if he had not resigned first. A former member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), he has served as Member of the Scottish Parliament for Renfrewshire North and West since 2011. Email us at scoop@thesun.co.uk or call 0141 420 5300, How to spot the signs of deadly blood clots - after fears linked to AZ vaccine, Kate Garraway shares heartbreaking first photo of husband Derek in hospital, Greggs confirms 56 stores closed in 2020 as it reports first loss in 36 years, 'Arctic dome' to bring snow, Met Office warns as Brits enjoy last day of sunshine, Piers Morgan slams 'ridiculous' EU for causing 'panic' over AstraZeneca vaccine, ©News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Another Twitter user said: “@NicolaSturgeon if Derek Mackay doesn’t resign as an MSP then your party are sending a message that it’s ok for your MSPs to behave this way.” For other inquiries, Contact Us. How does the new US child tax credit measure up? And there was no sign of life at the £400,000 home in Bishopton, Renfrewshire, which the couple bought in September 2018. View our online Press Pack. The text came amid a flurry of unreturned messages he sent in December and January. What happens to your body in extreme heat? Mr Mackay was tipped as a successor to Nicola Sturgeon Image caption: Mr Mackay was tipped as a successor to Nicola Sturgeon. Derek grew up in Scotland and got into politics at the young age of 16 years when he joined SNP Youth (presently referred to as Young Scots for Independence).. Derek Mackay education background . “I think it’s strange that he is so far away with someone who he is meant to love and he is still messaging a young boy. Police Scotland said it had not received any complaint of criminality, but was "assessing available information from media information". In a statement released on Thursday morning, Mr Mackay said: "I take full responsibility for my actions. In one of their first chats, Mackay offered to pay for the teenager to go to a rugby match. I would be in parliament that day. It can also involve invitations to events, taking them on trips or even holidays. There has been no suggestion in the Scottish Sun's story that Derek Mackay communicated with the boy when he was under the age of 16. He then pestered the lad about attending a Scottish Rugby Union event being held at Holyrood. He said: “I could take you?”, In a midnight exchange starting at 12.03am on Friday, December 27, messages show the leading Nat telling the boy: “You are looking good with that new haircut.”, The youngster replied: “Thanks, needed a change. Dabbler. The Scottish Sun said that Derek Mackay contacted the schoolboy over a six-month period, and told him that he was "cute". Both of them simply said “Hey” and went unanswered by the lad — who was by this point worried about the high-flying Scottish Government minister’s motives. The newspaper detailed allegations that the 42-year-old politician contacted the boy "out of the blue" in August of last year and sent about 270 messages on Instagram and through Facebook. Mr Mackay would have been putting the finishing touches to his preparations to his £43bn budget when he was contacted by the Scottish Sun on Wednesday evening, before the newspaper released the story at 23:20. In one of the exchanges, Mr Mackay is said to have told the teenager he was "cute". Derek Mackay continued to text the schoolboy despite knowing his age In a number of exchanges it is clear the boy is choosing not to reply — while Mr Mackay, who has quit as … “Is that Ok? © 2021 BBC. Verified commentators can correct listings added for them, add contact details / website, add a photo or audio sample and more. The newspaper also reported that Mr Mackay contacted the boy several times on Christmas Day, and told him on another occasion that he was "looking good with that new haircut". Mr Mackay said he had "behaved foolishly" and took full responsibility for his actions. Derek Mackay is on Facebook. “It will be just speeches I can’t imagine hugely interesting [grinning emoji].”. STV News Political Editor Colin Mackay asks Humza Yousaf about his immediate reaction to the resignation of Finance Secretary Derek Mackay. The Scottish Sunreported that Derek Mackay contacted the boy over a six-month period, and told him that he was "cute". He asked: “When are you back again?” And he then added: “My gym routine has started well.”. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. I’m away to the Canary Islands. His resignation came just hours before he was due to present the Scottish government's spending plans for the next year - a major set piece event in the Scottish Parliament. Video. In another the boy confirmed he was 16 and tells Mr Mackay "not to try anything". It has published a list of messages - the most recent of which is from earlier this week - involving Mr Mackay and the boy, in which its says the MSP invited him to dinner and to attend a rugby event. Derek Harold Mackay, age 37, Shawnee, KS 66226 View Full Report. And when the boy said that he could, Mackay responded: “I could get you back through probably.”. The schoolboy said that before the unexpected social media contact he had no idea Mackay — who had been tipped to succeed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon — was a high-profile politician. Scotland's finance secretary has quit hours before delivering his budget amid reports that he messaged a 16-year-old boy on social media. The politician went to Kirklandneuk Primary School then joined Renfrew High School for his secondary education. The two Facebook texts were among 270 the disgraced politician sent to the lad over six months. THE Scottish Sun can reveal the entire six months’ worth of social media messages sent by Derek Mackay to a 16-year-old boy. Tellingly, the youngster ignored the message the former SNP Finance Secretary pinged him at 12.19am on January 5. He also apologised "unreservedly" to the boy and his family. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she did not know about Mr Mackay's "unacceptable" behaviour until Wednesday evening, and is "not aware of any further allegations" against him. private Facebook and Instagram posts here. He wrote: “And do you really want to come to that SRU event in parliament. Scotland's disgraced former finance secretary Derek Mackay claimed more than £4,400 in expenses in the month after he resigned when his 270 messages to a 16-year-old boy were exposed. Share page. Join Facebook to connect with Derek Mackay and others you may know. close. Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Read about our approach to external linking. We pay for your stories and videos! Mackay resigned on Wednesday night after it emerged he had sent suggestive messages to a 16-year-old boy. The private Facebook … Mackay’s Facebook profile shows that he ‘checked in’ to the Pure Gym at 2.42pm that day.