Shamed former SNP minister to stand down at next election

Shamed ex-SNP minister in pledge to step down

Former SNP minister Mark McDonald has announced his intention to step down at the next Holyrood election.

The shamed Aberdeen Donside MSP was suspended from the party following allegations of inappropriate behaviour against several women in 2017.

McDonald, who has since quit the SNP and currently stands as an independent, revealed on Thursday he would not be seeking re-election.

Former minister for Child Care & Early Years Mark McDonald has announced his intention to step down for re-election.

The ex-children’s minister spoke of his pride at serving his constituency and pledged to continue to do so for at least the next twelve months.

Writing on Facebook, he said: "It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to have had the opportunity to represent the constituency of Aberdeen Donside, and prior to that the North East of Scotland region, in the Scottish Parliament.

"I grew up in, and live in, the constituency I represent and thus it has always had an importance to me, which I have sought to emphasise through my advocacy on behalf of constituents and communities.

"I am, however, acutely aware that none of these achievements will be the things which people will associate with me, and that my time in office will forever be defined by the mistakes I have made, and for which I have paid a significant and lasting price.

"When I returned to parliament in 2018, I made it clear that I would demonstrate through my conduct that I had reflected upon the errors of judgement I had made in my interactions with people, where I had misunderstood how the power dynamics as a government minister, or MSP, could lead to interactions being perceived differently by those who I had regarded as friends or colleagues.

"I hope that I have been able to demonstrate such change.

"I will have to live forever with consequences of those mistakes and the upset that they caused, and it is appropriate for me to reiterate here the apologies I have made before. I continue to seek to make right the things I got wrong.

"I am also acutely aware that any election campaign in which I played a part would be one which would focus far less on the important issues which affect the communities I represent, and would instead be one defined around my presence.

“I believe the constituents and communities of Aberdeen Donside deserve a range of candidates whose sole focus is on how they can improve the life circumstances of those they represent, and while that is the primary motivation which I have to do the job, I recognise that for it to be a reality I cannot be one of those candidates. After speaking to those closest to me to make them aware of my decision, I am taking the opportunity to formally announce that I shall be stepping down from parliament at the 2021 election.

"I shall continue for the next twelve months, as I have done since my first day in the job, to represent the communities of this constituency to the best of my ability, and I look forward to continuing to meet constituents and organisations to enable their voices to be heard.

"I hope that the candidates who are selected to contest the seat will engage the imaginations of the voters with positive ideas for how to improve their communities.

"Aberdeen Donside is a wonderful constituency, I have been proud to represent it since 2013 and I wish the very best to whoever the voters elect to represent them in 2021."