SCOTLAND’S only Ukip politician is continuing to employ the party’s former chairman despite his recent appearance in court on sex charges.
MEP David Coburn yesterday confirmed that Arthur Misty Thackeray remained working for him as his parliamentary assistant.
"We all have our private life," Coburn said.
Thackeray, 55, who stood for Ukip in Glasgow East at last year’s general election, appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on January 25 accused of making indecent phone calls.
He was charged under section 7(1) of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 which relates to sexual verbal communication with someone who has not given consent.
He made no plea or declaration and was granted bail.
He is expected back in court at a later date - prosecutors have a year to go to trial.
Thackeray stood aside temporarily as Scottish chair of the Eurosceptic party last weekend after a tabloid newspaper asked about the charges.
However Coburn, who became Ukip’s first elected politician in Scotland in 2014, said Thackeray was still in the party and remained one of his assistants in Scotland.
Coburn said: “He still does [work for me]. Absolutely. That’s employment law.”
He said Thackeray was a respected figure in the east end of Glasgow and well known for community and charity work.
“Everyone knows him in the east end. He’s well received. Everyone likes him.
“The guy is a liked man. We all have our private life. A man is innocent until proven guilty. That used to be the law in this country and I still stick by it.”
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