The Derek Mackay texts and the Scottish Budget

[harry94]

2 hours ago, Highlandmagyar 2nd Tier said:

If MacKay hasn't broken any laws he should be left alone. But he should resign as an MSP as he has displayed a dreadful lack of decorum and judgement. 

14/15 months of salary left this parliamentary term, that's like £75k of salary left and 6% of that matched into his pension pot. I'm not totally sure but I think he may be entitled to more cash if he tries to stand as an independent, that's the case at Westminster anyway that you get money as a kind of severance pay thing.

It's not right at all that he can continue as a representative but for someone who isn't going to be flooded with employment offers in the near future, he's never going to take that decision with his life fucked and there should be a method of taking that out of his hands.

[Guest Bob Mahelp]

22 minutes ago, alta-pete said:

Coming out as being gay after 20-odd years of marriage in no way trumps grooming a 16 year old boy. 

You seem very outraged by all this.

The best way to handle your outrage, shock and disgust is to find a football forum, and post at least once every 5 minutes about how outraged and disgusted you are. 

That'll teach the basturd. 

 

[Gordon EF]

18 hours ago, YassinMoutaouakil said:

I guess the previous and possibly next First Minister being exposed as massive fucking dangers doesn't merit any further investigation into the structure they were allowed to operate in then. I'm not talking about prescribing the SNP or anything but to dismiss stuff like this because it's not "unique to them" is a bit head-in-the -sand-y.

What would any organisation's structure possibly have to do with any individual sending private facebook or text messages?

If there was any indication that any of this behaviour was known about or covered up then absolutely, until then, it's just a bit daft.

[alta-pete]

10 minutes ago, Bob Mahelp said:

You seem very outraged by all this.

The best way to handle your outrage, shock and disgust is to find a football forum, and post at least once every 5 minutes about how outraged and disgusted you are. 

That'll teach the basturd. 

 

Sitting on a train chief. It passes the time. 

[Bishop Briggs]

35 minutes ago, Crùbag said:

It would be more of a shock if Schofield came out as left-wing.

As to Mackay... jeezo. What is it with horny middle-aged men and power? If only he were royalty, he might have gotten away with it... Sturgeon right to sack him.

But the media reports say that Mackay resigned.

[John Lambies Doos]

But the media reports say that Mackay resigned.

Semantics, Sturgeon would have sacked him asap, he just got in first.

[Nigel]

Derek McKay appears to be a very troubled and troubling politician whose now-revealed actions should at the least debar him from holding future political office.

But any moral guardians attempting to contaminate the body politic of the SNP on the back of recent events will fail, and fail miserably. The very attempt is an indication of the desperation of the SNP haters here and elsewhere.

Not really, appears hes well known for predatory behaviour (banned from.drinking at SNP events). We have someone in the paper today whose account of him homing in on him is almost a replica of a post further up the page from someone who experienced the same. That type of behaviour doesnt occur in a vacuum. People turn a blind eye to it.

[Highlandmagyar 2nd Tier]

5 minutes ago, John Lambies Doos said:

7 minutes ago, Bishop Briggs said:

But the media reports say that Mackay resigned.

Semantics, Sturgeon would have sacked him asap, he just got in first.

Did he? Sturgeon said in parliament yesterday that she asked him to resign then he did.

[Bishop Briggs]

19 minutes ago, Nigel said:

6 hours ago, O said:

Derek McKay appears to be a very troubled and troubling politician whose now-revealed actions should at the least debar him from holding future political office.

But any moral guardians attempting to contaminate the body politic of the SNP on the back of recent events will fail, and fail miserably. The very attempt is an indication of the desperation of the SNP haters here and elsewhere.

Not really, appears hes well known for predatory behaviour (banned from.drinking at SNP events). We have someone in the paper today whose account of him homing in on him is almost a replica of a post further up the page from someone who experienced the same. That type of behaviour doesnt occur in a vacuum. People turn a blind eye to it.

The Herald has more - https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18217581.nicola-sturgeon-banned-shamed-derek-mackay-drinking-snp-conferences/

"The 42-year-old is also said to have regularly enjoyed energetic evenings at nightclubs with young men. Mackay was claimed to have been highly enthusiastic at the party’s infamous “conference karaoke” social events, which take place each year.

Eventually the First Minister advised the MSP not to go out partying after his behaviour came up at senior staff meetings, the ex-staff member said. Mr Mackay, who was suspended from the party yesterday, even joked at the 2017 party conference that attendees would not be seeing him at the pub after the event as “Nicola won’t let me”.  

Yet Sturgeon considered him to be the best person to run our nation's finances! What does that say about her personal judgement when making senior appointments? Was there no other MSP who was more suitable than Mackay?

[Rodhull]

5 minutes ago, Bishop Briggs said:

The Herald has more - https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18217581.nicola-sturgeon-banned-shamed-derek-mackay-drinking-snp-conferences/

"The 42-year-old is also said to have regularly enjoyed energetic evenings at nightclubs with young men. Mackay was claimed to have been highly enthusiastic at the party’s infamous “conference karaoke” social events, which take place each year.

Eventually the First Minister advised the MSP not to go out partying after his behaviour came up at senior staff meetings, the ex-staff member said. Mr Mackay, who was suspended from the party yesterday, even joked at the 2017 party conference that attendees would not be seeing him at the pub after the event as “Nicola won’t let me”.  

Yet Sturgeon considered him to be the best person to run our nation's finances! What does that say about her personal judgement when making senior appointments? Was there no other MSP who was more suitable than Mackay?

There's nothing there from what you've posted that would automatically make anyone conclude this guy is obviously grooming children though. If they still think that he's doing his job to an acceptable standard I'm not really sure what out of 'goes to nightclubs' and acts like a dick after a drink would raise those kind of alarm bells.

[Highlandmagyar 2nd Tier]

23 minutes ago, Bishop Briggs said:

The Herald has more - https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18217581.nicola-sturgeon-banned-shamed-derek-mackay-drinking-snp-conferences/

"The 42-year-old is also said to have regularly enjoyed energetic evenings at nightclubs with young men. Mackay was claimed to have been highly enthusiastic at the party’s infamous “conference karaoke” social events, which take place each year.

Eventually the First Minister advised the MSP not to go out partying after his behaviour came up at senior staff meetings, the ex-staff member said. Mr Mackay, who was suspended from the party yesterday, even joked at the 2017 party conference that attendees would not be seeing him at the pub after the event as “Nicola won’t let me”.  

Yet Sturgeon considered him to be the best person to run our nation's finances! What does that say about her personal judgement when making senior appointments? Was there no other MSP who was more suitable than Mackay?

Clutching at straws. 

[D Angelo Barksdale]

'Here Nicola, check this walloper belting oot Dancing Queen on the karaoke'

'Well that's his chances of landing the Finance minister job gone'

[Wee Bully]

 

[Guest Bob Mahelp]

39 minutes ago, Bishop Briggs said:

The Herald has more - https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18217581.nicola-sturgeon-banned-shamed-derek-mackay-drinking-snp-conferences/

"The 42-year-old is also said to have regularly enjoyed energetic evenings at nightclubs with young men. Mackay was claimed to have been highly enthusiastic at the party’s infamous “conference karaoke” social events, which take place each year.

Eventually the First Minister advised the MSP not to go out partying after his behaviour came up at senior staff meetings, the ex-staff member said. Mr Mackay, who was suspended from the party yesterday, even joked at the 2017 party conference that attendees would not be seeing him at the pub after the event as “Nicola won’t let me”.  

Yet Sturgeon considered him to be the best person to run our nation's finances! What does that say about her personal judgement when making senior appointments? Was there no other MSP who was more suitable than Mackay?

Boris Johnson is a drunken liar and serial adulterer who finds it funny to make ignorant, racist innuendos.

Yet plenty of people...maybe even yourself...consider him suitable to be Prime Minister. 

Just saying like. 

 

Edited February 7, 2020 by Bob Mahelp

[Jacksgranda]

37 minutes ago, Bishop Briggs said:

The Herald has more - https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18217581.nicola-sturgeon-banned-shamed-derek-mackay-drinking-snp-conferences/

"The 42-year-old is also said to have regularly enjoyed energetic evenings at nightclubs with young men. Mackay was claimed to have been highly enthusiastic at the party’s infamous “conference karaoke” social events, which take place each year.

Eventually the First Minister advised the MSP not to go out partying after his behaviour came up at senior staff meetings, the ex-staff member said. Mr Mackay, who was suspended from the party yesterday, even joked at the 2017 party conference that attendees would not be seeing him at the pub after the event as “Nicola won’t let me”.  

Yet Sturgeon considered him to be the best person to run our nation's finances! What does that say about her personal judgement when making senior appointments? Was there no other MSP who was more suitable than Mackay?

 

25 minutes ago, Rodhull said:

There's nothing there from what you've posted that would automatically make anyone conclude this guy is obviously grooming children though. If they still think that he's doing his job to an acceptable standard I'm not really sure what out of 'goes to nightclubs' and acts like a dick after a drink would raise those kind of alarm bells.

 

12 minutes ago, Henderson to deliver ..... said:

'Here Nicola, check this walloper belting oot Dancing Queen on the karaoke'

'Well that's his chances of landing the Finance minister job gone'

Being (very) wise after the event springs to mind.

Now that (most/all?) the facts are known, MacKay's behaviour might have raised concerns. However, senior politicians getting drunk and making an arse of themselves at (at their own party political) events is hardly unprecedented. And all/most of the facts weren't known back then, we're led to believe.

I can recall George Brown, Harold Wilson's deputy, appearing drunk on national TV and I don't think anything happened to him.

[Bishop Briggs]

44 minutes ago, Bob Mahelp said:

Boris Johnson is a drunken liar and serial adulterer who finds it funny to make ignorant, racist innuendos.

Yet plenty of people...maybe even yourself...consider him suitable to be Prime Minister. 

Just saying like. 

More whataboutery.

For the record, I have always considered Johnson unsuitable for any office for those and other reasons. The old buffoon act was a cover for ruthless Old Etonian ambition.

His performance as London Mayor was utterly abysmal. He was an authoritarian empire builder who tried to grab powers from central government and local councils in the South East. The Olympic stadium deal that Baroness Karren Brady, a Tory Peer, got for West Ham was obscene. It has cost London taxpayers hundreds of £millions. 

Bizarrely, he is able to attract Labour voters in the Midlands and Northern England and Wales who would not consider voting for any other Tory. 

Edited February 7, 2020 by Bishop Briggs

[Bishop Briggs]

1 hour ago, Highlandmagyar 2nd Tier said:

Clutching at straws. 

Nope. If Sturgeon thought his drunken behaviour merited a conference alcohol ban, she must have considered it to be a major problem.

Or do you think that she was wrong to do so?

59 minutes ago, Henderson to deliver ..... said:

'Here Nicola, check this walloper belting oot Dancing Queen on the karaoke'

'Well that's his chances of landing the Finance minister job gone'

Would you want your company, employer, party or country to be run by a "walloper" whose behaviour reportedly necessitated a booze ban?

[Guest Bob Mahelp]

7 minutes ago, Bishop Briggs said:

More whataboutery.

For the record, I have always considered Johnson unsuitable for any office for those and other reasons. The old buffoon act was a cover for ruthless Old Etonian ambition.

His performance as London Mayor was utterly abysmal. He was an authoritarian empire builder who tried to grab powers from central government and local councils in the South East. The Olympic stadium deal that Baroness Karren Brady, a Tory Peer, got for West Ham was obscene. It has cost London taxpayers hundreds of £millions. 

Bizarrely, he is able to attract Labour voters in the Midlands and Northern England and Wales who would not consider voting for any other Tory. 

It's not whataboutery.  I don't consider McKay suitable for public office and I'm happy he's gone. 

But, as pointed out by several posters above, it's a sweeping (and incorrect) statement to say that the SNP showed poor judgement by appointing somebody who 'liked a drink and a good time at parties' as Finance secretary. 

If any politician in any party was excluded from high office on these criteria, there would be nobody left to fill any cabinet position. 

He's now been sacked/resigned, which is the correct decision. 

[Bishop Briggs]

6 minutes ago, Bob Mahelp said:

It's not whataboutery.  I don't consider McKay suitable for public office and I'm happy he's gone. 

But, as pointed out by several posters above, it's a sweeping (and incorrect) statement to say that the SNP showed poor judgement by appointing somebody who 'liked a drink and a good time at parties' as Finance secretary. 

If any politician in any party was excluded from high office on these criteria, there would be nobody left to fill any cabinet position. 

He's now been sacked/resigned, which is the correct decision. 

Big companies undertake detailed due diligence on personal behaviour when making senior appointments such as Finance Director.

Why should politics be any different? Politicians in all parties have a duty of care to the voters, party members and staff to ensure that Parliamentarians are fit for office.

Edited February 7, 2020 by Bishop Briggs

[Genuine Hibs Fan]

10 minutes ago, Bishop Briggs said:

Big companies undertake detailed due diligence on personal behaviour when making senior appointments such as Finance Director.

Why should politics be any different? Politicians in all parties have a duty of care to the voters, party members and staff to ensure that Parliamentarians are fit for office.

Is going to nightclubs, per se , an indication of loose morality and/or unfitness for office? 

To be clear, he's an obvious creep, and I think there's definitely something to be said for the SNP, and political parties in general, being far too easy places for predators to operate.

But if we're starting to insinuate that gay men who go to nightclubs or take part in karaoke while drunk are de facto for the watching and not fit for public office then there's a note of homophobia in the reporting. 

Edited February 7, 2020 by Genuine Hibs Fan