Derek Mackay
Derek Mackay (born 1977)[2] is a former Scottish politician who served as Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work from 2016 to 2020. A former member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), he was Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Renfrewshire North and West from 2011 to 2021. Mackay served as a government minister from 2011 to 2020 under the administrations of Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon.
For the Scottish footballer, see Derek McKay.
Derek Mackay
Himself (Finance)
Keith Brown (Economy, Jobs and Fair Work)
Kate Forbes (Finance)
Fiona Hyslop (Economy, Fair Work and Culture)
Himself (Finance)
Michael Russell (Constitution)
Constituency established
Independent (from 2020)
SNP (until 2020)[1]
2
Raised in Renfrewshire, he was elected to Renfrewshire Council in 1999 and was Leader of the Council from 2007 to 2011. Elected to the Scottish Parliament at the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, he served as Minister for Transport and Islands from 2011 to 2014 and Minister for Local Government and Planning from 2014 to 2016, as well as Chairman and Business Convener of the Scottish National Party from 2011 to 2018.
Mackay became Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution in 2016, succeeding Deputy First Minister John Swinney. In 2018, during a Cabinet reshuffle, Mackay's post was enlarged, absorbing the responsibilities of the previous role of Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work to become Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work. In February 2020, he resigned as Finance Secretary after the Scottish Sun reported he had messaged a 16-year-old boy on social media, describing the boy as "cute" and offering to meet with him. He was also suspended from the SNP and sat as an independent MSP for the remainder of the 2016 parliamentary term, which ended on 25 March 2021.
Early life[edit]
Mackay was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, as the eldest of three children. His father was a violent alcoholic.[3] In Mackay's early teens, he fled from his father with his mother and younger brother, becoming briefly homeless.[4][5] He was educated at Kirklandneuk Primary School and Renfrew High School.[6] MacKay became the first in his family to attend university, studying social work at the University of Glasgow, however, he later dropped out to pursue a career in politics.[4][7]
He joined the Scottish National Party (SNP) at 16 and was involved in both the youth, where he served as National Convener from 1998–2002, and student movements.[6]
Personal life[edit]
Mackay came out as gay in 2013 and separated from his wife.[19] They have two sons together.[20]
Mackay lives in Bishopton, Renfrewshire, near Glasgow, with his partner. He is involved with the Paisley Fairtrade Partnership, and is a member of CND and Amnesty International.[21] He was the Honorary Vice President of the Battalion for Paisley and District Boys' Brigade,[22] until being sacked from the position following his resignation scandal.[23]
In February 2020, it was reported by a former senior SNP staff member that Nicola Sturgeon had banned Mackay from drinking at SNP conferences, because of reports around his behaviour. Mackay joked to attendees at the 2017 party conference that they would not see him later as, "Nicola won't let me".[24][12]