Labour MSP urged to quit over friendship with sex offender

Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy has been urged to immediately quit Holyrood following a fresh report about her friendship with a convicted sex offender.

Last month, the Glasgow politician announced she would not seek re-election in May after it emerged she maintained contact with a former Labour councillor following his conviction in 2017 for having indecent images of children.

The Daily Record has since reported that Duncan-Glancy continued her friendship with Sean Morton after he was jailed last year for further offences.

Labour leader Anas Sarwar said he was not aware of the details of the report, but said he expected the "highest standards" from his MSPs.

Morton, a former councillor for Fochabers Lhanbryde, was ordered in 2017 to carry out unpaid work and put on the sex offenders register after he pled guilty to possessing indecent child images and extreme pornography.

Duncan-Glancy, who was elected to Holyrood in 2021, stood down from her party's frontbench in December after the Daily Record reported that the pair had maintained contact.

The MSP, who had been selected to stand for Labour in May's Holyrood election, later said she would stand down at the poll, saying she did not want "a personal friendship to become a distraction".

It has now emerged that Morton was jailed in January last year after pleading guilty to possessing indecent photographs of children and breaching his sexual offences order. He was given two 16-month sentences, backdated to May 2024.

The Daily Record said Duncan-Glancy continued the friendship following his release, reporting Morton attended her birthday celebrations late last year.

Duncan-Glancy asked a question during First Minister's Questions on Thursday via video link.

She has been asked to comment.

SNP MSP Rona Mackay MSP said: "These latest revelations raise serious questions about Anas Sarwar's handling of this disturbing saga.

"For Ms Duncan-Glancy's friendship to continue with Mr Morton until she was approached by the Daily Record is staggering - but the news about Mr Morton's further convictions in 2025 make Scottish Labour's decision to approve her candidacy, given her friendship with Mr Morton, utterly unbelievable.

"If Pam Duncan-Glancy is not fit to sit on Labour's front bench or be a candidate, then this latest information shows she is not fit to carry on as an MSP until the election in May."

Sarwar, speaking after First Minister's Questions, said he was did not know the details of the latest news report.

He said Duncan-Glancy had "already accepted her error of judgement in maintaining with this individual".

Sarwar told BBC Scotland News: "And as you know she is not a candidate come the election in May."

He said he expected the "highest standards" from his MSPs and said he had sought "certain reassurances" from Duncan-Glancy.