16 June 2010 Last updated at 09:17 ET

Frank McAveety quits over 'attractive girl' remark

Mr McAveety made the comments during a break in the committee

A Labour MSP has resigned from his role as convener of a Holyrood committee after being heard making comments about a woman in the public benches.

A microphone picked up former minister Frank McAveety talking about the "very attractive girl" during a conversation with the committee clerk.

He said he would be quitting his role as committee convener and as Labour's sports spokesman.

Mr McAveety had already apologised for any offence caused by his comments.

In a letter to Scottish Labour Iain Gray, the Glasgow Shettleston MSP said: "I would like to offer my resignation as convener of the petitions committee and my role as Labour's sports spokesperson.

"I came to the decision after reflecting overnight on the reports of comments I made at the committee.

Brian Taylor Political editor, BBC Scotland

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To be blunt, it is the job of the convener to ensure his committee is running smoothly and efficiently - not to ogle members of the audience.

Still less should he be offering a brief running commentary to the committee clerk, to the effect that the woman in question was "dusky" and "the kind you'd see in a Gauguin painting".

Adding "there's a bit of culture" only made it worse.

He is an intriguing character, Mr McAveety. A former English teacher and twice, briefly, a minister, he can converse intelligently about politics and culture one moment - before slipping all too easily into the mode of a laddish rascal the next.

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"I would not want the incident to detract in any way from the work of the committee and the substantial contribution I feel I have made as convener."

Mr McAveety, who is married, added: "I am proud of the progress made during my time as convener and that it has become much more accessible to the public.

"I would like to reiterate my apology for any offence which my comments may have caused."

Mr McAveety made his comments about the woman, believed to be on a placement with the Scottish Green Party, during a gap in committee proceedings, between the consideration of petitions on wind farms and Parkinson's disease.

He was heard to say: "There's a very attractive girl in the second row, dark... and dusky. We'll maybe put a wee word out for her."

Mr McAveety went on: "She's very attractive looking, nice, very nice, very slim," before adding: "The heat's getting to me."

The MSP also said: "She looks kinda... she's got that Filipino look.

"You know... the kind you'd see in a Gauguin painting. There's a wee bit of culture."