Nicola Sturgeon still friends with Derek Mackay after scandal
The boy was over the age of consent and Mr Mackay broke no laws in the messages he sent, but Ms Sturgeon described them at the time as "unacceptable" and says in her new book they were "inappropriate".
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However, in the memoir as quoted in the Scottish Sun, the former First Minister says he remains a friend.
Ms Sturgeon writes: "I was back at Bute House when the Sun story went online, late that evening. I felt sick as I read it.
'The messages were published in full and were not open to benign interpretation.
"They would be seen by any objective reader as Derek trying to engineer reasons to meet with the boy and to strike up a relationship with him.
'Given the age difference and the power imbalance, it was impossible to describe the exchanges as anything other than inappropriate. I had received and accepted Derek's resignation within the hour.
"He had made a serious mistake and, rightly, paid the price. He eventually got his life back on track and, though it would be a few years before I spoke to him again, I still count him as a friend.'
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