Labour MSP quits over ‘attractive girl’ remark
By politics.co.uk staff
A Labour MSP has quit as convener of a Holyrood committee and as Labour’s sports spokesman after he was overheard referring to a “very attractive girl” while the committee was sitting.
Frank McAveety made the comments about a woman on the public benches during a gap in proceedings, in between a discussion on wind farms and another on Parkinson’s disease.
“There’s a very attractive girl in the second row, dark… and dusky. We’ll maybe put a wee word out for her,” he told the committee clerk.
“She’s very attractive looking, nice, very nice, very slim,” he added.
“The heat’s getting to me. She looks kinda… she’s got that Filipino look.
“You know… the kind you’d see in a Gauguin painting. There’s a wee bit of culture.”
The comments were picked up by microphone. Mr McAveety had already apologised for the comments, but he reiterated that message in his resignation letter to Iain Gray, Scottish Labour leader.
“I would like to offer my resignation as convener of the petitions committee and my role as Labour’s sports spokesperson,” the Glasgow Shettleston MSP wrote.
“I came to the decision after reflecting overnight on the reports of comments I made at the committee.
“I would not want the incident to detract in any way from the work of the committee and the substantial contribution I feel I have made as convener.”
Mr McAveety added: “I am proud of the progress made during my time as convener and that it has become much more accessible to the public.
“I would like to reiterate my apology for any offence which my comments may have caused.”
