Nicola Sturgeon has urged her former childcare minister Mark McDonald to stand down as an MSP after he resigned from her party over inappropriate behaviour but refused to quit Holyrood.
McDonald announced on Tuesday he had left the Scottish National Party after three women accused him of unwanted and inappropriate behaviour, but he insisted he would stay on as independent MSP for Aberdeen Donside.
Sturgeon, who is SNP leader as well as first minister, told reporters she could not see why McDonald felt it was right to remain at Holyrood if he felt it necessary to leave the party because of his conduct.
“He was elected as an SNP MSP,” she said. “If his behaviour is such that he himself considers he cannot continue as an SNP MSP, then it would be appropriate to give his constituents the opportunity to elect a new MSP.”
After the allegations about inappropriate behaviour emerged in November, McDonald stood down as minister for childcare and early years and was then quickly suspended by the SNP.
In a statement, the SNP said three women had complained about McDonald’s conduct, and after interviewing 18 witnesses, an investigation concluded that the allegations against him by two of the women were substantiated.
The SNP said his actions included: “Inappropriate and unwanted text and social media messages; unwanted attention causing distress; persistent behaviour over an extended period of time; (and) exploiting his position of power.”
A party spokesman said: “Investigators concluded that McDonald had been deliberate in his actions, and should have been aware that it was not appropriate for an individual in his position to be behaving in such a manner. McDonald today publicly resigned from the party.”
The investigation concluded that the allegations from the third woman, who accused him of “inappropriate physical contact” at a social event, could not be substantiated.
In a statement released on Twitter, McDonald insisted he now accepted his behaviour had been unacceptable and an abuse of power, but he denied any “physical abuse”. He said he deeply regretted his behaviour and had written to one complainant to apologise, as she had requested.
“I have accepted that my behaviour towards two individuals fell below the level of professionalism that they were entitled to expect of me, whether in a personal or social context,” he said.
Opposition parties had earlier accused McDonald of resigning from the party simply to protect the SNP’s reputation. McDonald is now also expected to vote alongside the SNP and his refusal to resign from Holyrood also prevented a byelection taking place that Sturgeon was confident her party would win.