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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Paul Hutcheon

SNP MSP who apologised over BBC comments to take time away from Holyrood

An SNP MSP has announced he will be taking time away from Holyrood to improve his physical and mental health.

James Dornan, who represents Glasgow Cathcart, said he made the decision after a spell in hospital.

In a statement, he said: “Just recently I spent four nights in hospital and it gave me the opportunity to reflect on my health in a way I’ve not felt the need to for a long time.

“Having spoken with others, I have decided to abide by the advice I’ve been given and take some time off work.

“During this period, I will recuperate and try to get my health, both physical and mental, back to a place where I can best serve my constituents once more.

“My office will, of course, still be working on casework and anyone who requires assistance should contact me in the usual manner. Thank you for your forbearance.”

Dornan, a former councillor who became an MSP in 2011, has at times run into trouble over public statements on a range of issues.

He apologised last year after falsely suggesting that anti-Catholic sentiment may have been behind a decision by Lothian Buses to suspend services on St Patrick’s day.

He also apologised this year after initially claiming that the abuse faced by BBC journalist Sarah Smith in covering Scottish politics had been “imaginary”.

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