A disgraced former SNP Finance Secretary has set up a consultancy firm after quitting politics.
Derek Mackay, who quit after bombarding a 16 year old boy with hundreds of messages, is behind new venture Lochan Associates Ltd.
Mackay was an SNP rising star tipped to be Nicola Sturgeon’s successor as First Minister.
However, he quit his post in 2020 on the day he was supposed to deliver the Budget after the messages emerged.
He quit the Cabinet, apologised to the boy and never returned to Holyrood.
According to the Herald, the consultancy was incorporated earlier this week and lists Mackay as its sole director, sole shareholder and “person with significant control”.
It is registered at an address in Paisley.
According to Companies House, the firm will conduct “management consultancy activities other than financial management”.
Mackay was a council leader before entering Holyrood and the setting up of the new firm will inevitably raise questions over whether he will be providing political consultancy services.
Despite never returning to the Parliament after quitting as a Cabinet Minister, Mackay drew his MSP’s salary until the last election.
The Conservatives are planning legislation which could see politicians who do not attend Holyrood for six months be forced to stand down.
Tory MSP Russell Findlay said: “After shamelessly milking every last dime from Scottish taxpayers since his downfall, Derek Mackay’s legacy is likely to be a new law being brought forward by the Scottish Conservatives that will allow rogue MSPs to be sacked.”
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