Mackay urged to resign seat after claiming £8500 in expenses

Former finance secretary Derek Mackay has been urged to resign from Holyrood after it emerged he claimed expenses of more than £8500 in the four months after quitting the Cabinet post.

Mackay resigned from the Scottish Government on February 6 after the Scottish Sun revealed he had sent 270 messages to a 16-year-old boy on social media.

He has not participated in any Scottish Parliament business and has not been seen at Holyrood since.

But the latest MSPs’ allowances register shows Mackay claimed £8570.33 on rent and bills for his Edinburgh accommodation and his constituency office between February and May.

The Renfrewshire North and West MSP’s expenses were comprised of £1900 in rent for his Edinburgh property, as well as £663.50 for council tax and a £41.32 electricity bill.

His constituency office expenses totalled £1469.01.

Mackay also claimed £4406.50 for rent and bills in February and March.

Following the publication of expenses, Scottish Conservative MSP Annie Wells said: “It is shocking the former SNP Cabinet secretary has totted up over £8000 in expenses when hide nor hair has been seen of him in Parliament.

“Derek Mackay is given this money to help represent his constituents. There is no evidence he is, following a disappearance that would impress Harry Houdini.

“If he can’t do his job and turn up to Parliament, he should resign, instead of hiding at home while claiming expenses and an MSP salary.”