Exclusive:Labour MSP 'should stand down as Holyrood candidate' over sex offender links, says parliamentarian

The party figure said Pam Duncan-Glancy continuing as the candidate for Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill would “damage our campaign in the city”.

They added that “Reform will weaponise this” if Ms Duncan-Glancy stands for Labour at next year’s election.

Ms Duncan-Glancy quit her education role on Friday after the Daily Record approached Scottish Labour about her links to former councillor Sean Morton.

The Glasgow MSP maintained her friendship with Mr Morton despite him pleading guilty in 2017 to possessing indecent images of girls under 15 and of a couple having sex with a dog.

A Labour parliamentarian told The Scotsman: “Winning Glasgow will be crucial if Labour is to beat the SNP next year.

“Pam Duncan-Glancy has shown shocking judgment and will damage our campaign in the city.

“She should immediately stand down as a candidate.

“There is no doubt that Reform will weaponise this if she does not.”

Ms Duncan-Glancy admitted a “serious error of personal judgement” when she resigned from her frontbench role on Friday.

But she did not say she would stand down as an MSP or as a candidate for next year’s Holyrood election.

Mr Morton was made to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work, was given a three-year supervision order and placed on the sex offenders register for three years after pleading guilty.

He was a life-long friend of Ms Duncan-Glancy, who was elected as an MSP for Glasgow in 2021 and had served in frontbench roles since.

It was reported that Ms Duncan-Glancy had stayed in touch with Mr Morton.

The pair had dinner to celebrate the MSP’s birthday and were believed to be in frequent contact, despite Mr Morton being a convicted sex offender.

In her resignation letter on Friday, Ms Duncan-Glancy wrote: "I am writing today to formally resign, with immediate effect, from my position as Scottish Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Member for Education and Skills.

"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.

"I will do everything I can to support you and your leadership going forward."

In response, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar wrote: "You have acknowledged a serious error of judgement. However, you have acted and taken the appropriate decision, and I thank you for that.

"During your time as a Member of the Scottish Parliament, you have worked hard to represent your constituents, to hold the SNP Government to account and to help shape Scottish Labour’s positive alternative for May 2026. You can be proud of the contribution you have made in this role."

A Scottish Labour spokesman said on Friday: "By resigning Pam Duncan-Glancy has done the right thing, we consider the matter closed."

Labour MSP Paul O’Kane took over her role as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education and Equalities.

Scottish Labour and Ms Duncan-Glancy were approached for comment.