VOTERS in Renfrewshire have overwhelmingly backed calls for Derek Mackay to stand down as an MSP.
The Renfrewshire North and West man hasn’t been seen in public since resigning as Finance Secretary last week amid a storm over ‘sleazy’ texts to a schoolboy.
He is currently suspended by the SNP pending a full investigation into his conduct and party sources have told The Gazette it will be Mr Mackay’s decision whether or not he stands down from his £63,579-a-year job.
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But voters have made it clear they would like him to give up the role, according to a poll conducted by The Gazette.
More than 90 per cent of readers who took part in our poll said the former Renfrewshire Council leader should stand down as an MSP regardless of the outcome of his party’s investigation, with only seven per cent happy for him to stay in office.
Readers have also taken to our social media pages to express their desire for Mr Mackay’s removal from office.
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This includes former Labour candidate for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, Alison Taylor, who wrote: “The people of Renfrewshire North and West deserve so much more than this. He has brought shame on himself, his party and Scotland.
“This abuse of power has to stop.”
The survey of 651 readers was conducted on our website between Thursday, February 6, and Monday, February 10.
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