Derek Mackay: Holyrood reveals final expenses bill for absentee MSP

New figures released by the Scottish Parliament show the former Finance Secretary billed taxpayers a total of £9,786 for 2020/21.

He also claimed £4,406 in February and March last year, immediately after he resigned in a sleaze scandal, making a total of £14,192 in claims while an absentee MSP.

Most of the claims related to rents for his constituency office in Renfrew and an Edinburgh flat.

Mr Mackay resigned on the eve of the Scottish budget on February 6 last year after it was revealed he had been pestering a 16-year-old schoolboy on social media.

It was reported that the SNP man had contacted the boy out of the blue, without knowing his age, the previous August and then sent him 270 messages over six months.

Mr Mackay had been tipped as a future First Minister until the scandal abruptly ended his political career.

He was not seen at Holyrood again and the SNP selected a new candidate – Natalie Don – to stand in Renfrewshire North and West at this year's Scottish Parliament elections.

However, Mr Mackay continued to collect his basic £64,470 salary.

He was also paid an automatic grant of £11,945 for loss of ministerial office after he quit.

In addition, Mr Mackay received an automatic resettlement grant of £53,725 after he ceased to be an MSP, the first £30,000 of which was tax free.

Details of his final expense claims emerged as the parliament revealed MSPs had clawed back more than £17million in expenses in 2020/21, when Holyrood was largely closed because of the Covid pandemic.

The parliament made greater use of remote working during the lockdowns, meaning MSPs could take part in debates and vote without being physically present.

The total, which includes staff and office costs, was up by 1.8% on the previous 12 months.

The most recent year’s data shows total expenditure was £17,288,534 – an increase of more than £300,000 from the previous year.