Scottish Finance Minister Resigns Over Scandalous Correspondence with 16-Year-Old Boy

Scottish Finance Minister Derek Mackay has resigned due to scandalous correspondence with a 16-year-old boy that was made public, according to BBC News.

The 42-year-old Mackay was set to present the 2020-2021 budget proposal but has decided it was prudent to step down from his position. Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon has accepted Mackay's resignation.

“I behaved like a fool, and I am very sorry,” said the now-former minister.

The correspondence between the former minister and the 16-year-old boy was revealed by The Scottish Sun newspaper. The paper reported that over six months, Mackay sent nearly 270 messages to the boy, calling him sweet, inviting him to meet, and asking him not to speak about it.

Notably, Mackay publicly came out as gay in 2013 and has since separated from his wife.