Exclusive:SNP 'failed to protect women' after shamed ex-minister allowed to attend party conference
Some women are said to be furious he was in attendance at SNP conference
Women members of the SNP have criticised the party for failing to “protect” them after welcoming a disgraced former minister to party conference.
Mark McDonald stepped down as children’s minister following allegations about his conduct.
He was then suspended from the SNP after the party received “new information” about his behaviour.
Mr McDonald apologised at the time for actions he described as “merely humorous or attempting to be friendly”.
He was present at the SNP’s pre-election conference in Edinburgh as a representative of the charity for which he works.
However, women who spoke to The Scotsman said some in their party had been deeply affected by the incident.
One woman was reported to be physically sick, such was her reaction to unexpectedly seeing Mr McDonald at the conference.
Another said: “We are not saying Mark McDonald should not be allowed to move on with his life.
“We are saying he should not be at SNP events where he is likely to come into contact with women who made allegations against him.
“The party has a choice to protect its women members, who they know have suffered trauma, but it made the wrong choice here.”
One woman, who was involved in the complaint against Mr McDonald, said: “I was furious to see him there.
“I almost couldn’t speak. Why did no one think this through? We are meant to be the party of championing women’s rights - until it’s time to put that into practice.”
The incidents were reported in 2017 and, following further reports, Mr McDonald was suspended by the party.
After a full internal investigation, a complaint was upheld and, from March 2018, he served the remainder of the parliamentary term as an independent MSP for his seat in Aberdeen Donside.
In response to an enquiry by The Scotsman, Mr McDonald said he did not wish to comment.
Nor did the CEO of Scottish Autism, the charity where Mr McDonald works.
A spokeswoman for the SNP said: “We take this matter seriously and are taking steps to address it.
“Women should feel welcome to participate in party politics in Scotland and it’s on all of us to make sure that is the case.”
An SNP source said: “The issues with Mark were nearly 10 years ago.
“The party acted quickly to suspend him, given the seriousness of what was alleged, but the feeling is split between accepting people have to be allowed rehabilitation.
“And a sense that he can be rehabilitated - but maybe still have the sensitivity not to appear at the SNP’s own events.”
A day prior to the conference, First Minister John Swinney had pledged to stamp down on sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour by MSPs.
A Dignity At Work survey of staff in Holyrood, commissioned by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, revealed 84 previously unreported cases of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment since 2021.
Patrick Grady, the shamed former SNP MP, was also present at the Edinburgh day-long party conference.
Mr Grady, who was later readmitted to the party, had been banned from Westminster and suspended from the SNP after "making unwanted sexual advances" to a teenage staffer.
The incident comes after The Scotsman revealed a male SNP staffer had been secretly recording in the office of a female MSP.
The man, who had previously worked in the office of a cabinet secretary, then moved to work for an SNP MP.
He is believed to still be involved with the party as a campaigner ahead of the Holyrood election.
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