Disgraced former SNP finance secretary Derek Mackay has been spotted at an energy conference in Glasgow.
Mackay said he had “apologised” for bombarding a 16 year old school boy with texts and said he is now working on renewable energy issues.
The former SNP high flyer, who was tipped as a future First Minister, quit on the day he was supposed to have delivered his Budget in 2020 after the messages emerged.
He never set foot in the parliament again as an MSP and set up his own consultancy, Lochan Associates.
In a rare sighting, he was seen at the “all energy” conference at the SEC - an event described as a “vital date” for the renewable and low carbon energy industry.
He said: "I think it is clear I resigned, left public office, and now getting on with my life.
"I have apologised before and I apologise again. I apologised publicly."
Asked why he was at the conference, he said: "Because I am working, contributing to society, and this is about renewables, that’s why I’m here today.
"I’ve apologised for any discomfort that caused and I’m just trying to get on with my life like everyone else is.”
First Minister Humza Yousaf was also at the conference this morning.
Mackay’s one Holyrood appearance since standing down as MSP was giving evidence to a committee on the ferries scandal.
He dodged the media after fleeing through the Holyrood basement.
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