Derek Mackay (born 30 July 1977) is a (suspended) Scottish National Party politician who served as Finance Secretary of Scotland from 2016 to 2020, and has served as Member of the Scottish Parliament for Renfrewshire North and West since 2011. Mackay previously served as Minister for Transport and Islands and Minister for Local Government and Planning.
Mackay was elected to Renfrewshire Council in 1999 at the age of 21. From 2007 to 2011 he was Leader of the Council.
On 6 February 2020 Mackay resigned as Finance Secretary after he was reported, in the Scottish Sun, as having messaged a 16-year-old school boy, over a six-month period, on social media
Mackay joined the SNP at 16 and was involved in both the youth, where he served as National Convener from 1998–2002, and student movements. He was first elected as a councillor for Renfrewshire Council at the age of 21 in 1999, making him at the time the youngest male councillor in Scotland.
Mackay attended Kirklandneuk Primary School and Renfrew High School. He later attended the University of Paisley, pursuing but ultimately abandoning a course in Shipping Management.
Political career
Mackay was first elected as a councillor in 1999, representing the Blythswood Ward on Renfrewshire Council. After his election in 1999, he won three successive ward elections and became leader of Renfrewshire Council in May 2007, taking the SNP from opposition to lead the administration for the first time. He became a national figure in local government, leading the SNP group in the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) from 2009 to 2011. He coordinated the SNP campaign in the 2012 Scottish local government elections and the 2017 UK General Election.
At the 2011, Mackay was adopted for the new constituency of Renfrewshire North and West while also being placed third on the SNP regional list for West Scotland region. Upon his election as the constituency MSP for Renfrewshire North and West, he was placed on the Finance Committee and also appointed as the SNP's Business Convener and Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the Cabinet Secretary for Parliamentary Business and Government Strategy Bruce Crawford MSP.
Following a mini-reshuffle Mackay replaced Aileen Campbell as Minister for Local Government and Planning on 7 December 2011. When Nicola Sturgeon became First Minister he was appointed as Minister for Transport and Islands.[3]
Following the Scottish Parliament election in 2016, Mackay was promoted to the Scottish Cabinet to serve as Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution. After a reshuffle in June 2018, Economy and Fair Work was added to his portfolio.
In June 2011, Mackay was appointed as the SNP's Business Convener (party chair), succeeding Bruce Crawford. The Business Convener is responsible for chairing the SNP's Party Conference and the National Executive Committee; overseeing the party's management, administration and operations, as well as the coordination of election campaigns; working with the Chief Executive of Headquarters in setting priorities. Mackay stepped down from the role in October 2018.
On 6 February 2020, after reports in the Scottish Sun, Mackay resigned just hours before the Scottish budget was due to be announced, after it was revealed he had sent a 16-year-old boy 270 messages over Facebook and Instagram.[2][4] First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she had accepted Mackay's resignation, adding: "Derek has made a significant contribution to government, however he recognises that his behaviour has failed to meet the standards required." Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw called on Mackay to also resign from the Scottish Parliament, saying his behaviour could "constitute the grooming of a young individual".[2] The same day Mackay was suspended from the SNP.[5]
Personal life
Mackay lives in Renfrew. He came out as gay in 2013 and separated from his wife.[6] They have two sons together, born 2015 and 2011
Mackay was elected to Renfrewshire Council in 1999 at the age of 21. From 2007 to 2011 he was Leader of the Council.
On 6 February 2020 Mackay resigned as Finance Secretary after he was reported, in the Scottish Sun, as having messaged a 16-year-old school boy, over a six-month period, on social media
Mackay joined the SNP at 16 and was involved in both the youth, where he served as National Convener from 1998–2002, and student movements. He was first elected as a councillor for Renfrewshire Council at the age of 21 in 1999, making him at the time the youngest male councillor in Scotland.
Mackay attended Kirklandneuk Primary School and Renfrew High School. He later attended the University of Paisley, pursuing but ultimately abandoning a course in Shipping Management.
Political career
Mackay was first elected as a councillor in 1999, representing the Blythswood Ward on Renfrewshire Council. After his election in 1999, he won three successive ward elections and became leader of Renfrewshire Council in May 2007, taking the SNP from opposition to lead the administration for the first time. He became a national figure in local government, leading the SNP group in the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) from 2009 to 2011. He coordinated the SNP campaign in the 2012 Scottish local government elections and the 2017 UK General Election.
At the 2011, Mackay was adopted for the new constituency of Renfrewshire North and West while also being placed third on the SNP regional list for West Scotland region. Upon his election as the constituency MSP for Renfrewshire North and West, he was placed on the Finance Committee and also appointed as the SNP's Business Convener and Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the Cabinet Secretary for Parliamentary Business and Government Strategy Bruce Crawford MSP.
Following a mini-reshuffle Mackay replaced Aileen Campbell as Minister for Local Government and Planning on 7 December 2011. When Nicola Sturgeon became First Minister he was appointed as Minister for Transport and Islands.[3]
Following the Scottish Parliament election in 2016, Mackay was promoted to the Scottish Cabinet to serve as Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution. After a reshuffle in June 2018, Economy and Fair Work was added to his portfolio.
In June 2011, Mackay was appointed as the SNP's Business Convener (party chair), succeeding Bruce Crawford. The Business Convener is responsible for chairing the SNP's Party Conference and the National Executive Committee; overseeing the party's management, administration and operations, as well as the coordination of election campaigns; working with the Chief Executive of Headquarters in setting priorities. Mackay stepped down from the role in October 2018.
On 6 February 2020, after reports in the Scottish Sun, Mackay resigned just hours before the Scottish budget was due to be announced, after it was revealed he had sent a 16-year-old boy 270 messages over Facebook and Instagram.[2][4] First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she had accepted Mackay's resignation, adding: "Derek has made a significant contribution to government, however he recognises that his behaviour has failed to meet the standards required." Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw called on Mackay to also resign from the Scottish Parliament, saying his behaviour could "constitute the grooming of a young individual".[2] The same day Mackay was suspended from the SNP.[5]
Personal life
Mackay lives in Renfrew. He came out as gay in 2013 and separated from his wife.[6] They have two sons together, born 2015 and 2011
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