SCOTTISH LABOUR’S education spokeswoman has resigned over her friendship with a convicted sex offender.

Glasgow list MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy tendered her resignation to leader Anas Sarwar on Friday after the Daily Record newspaper approached her with allegations from a member of the public of her continuing regular contact with former Moray Labour councillor Sean Morton.  

A friend of Ms Duncan-Glancy’s since childhood, Mr Morton’s political career ended in 2017 when he was charged with possession of indecent images, some involving children, he claimed were sent to him anonymously. He was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to 140 hours community service.

Writing to Mr Sarwar to resign from her position as Scottish Labour’s shadow cabinet member for education & skills, Ms Duncan-Glancy said: “It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve in this role and to support you and the party as it seeks to give Scotland the new direction it so desperately needs.

“However, recent stories about relationships in my personal life have made clear a serious lapse in professional judgement. I recognise that, as a direct consequence of this failure, it is no longer tenable for me to continue to serve in my current role.”

Accepting her resignation, the Scottish Labour leader said:  “You have acknowledged a serious error of judgement. However, you have acted and taken the appropriate decision, and I thank you for that.”

A party spokesman said: “By resigning, Pam Duncan-Glancy has done the right thing. We consider the matter closed.”

The party’s new shadow cabinet secretary for education and equalities will be west of Scotland MSP Paul O’Kane, with Claire Baker becoming shadow cabinet secretary for social security.