Scotland's finance secretary has resigned after reports he sent hundreds of messages to a 16-year-old boy he met online.
Derek Mackay stepped down just hours away from delivering the Scottish government's annual budget.
Mr Mackay said he "apologised unreservedly" for his "foolish" behaviour after some of the alleged messages were published in the Scottish Sun this morning.
According to the paper, 42-year-old Mr Mackay contacted the boy between August 2019 and last Saturday - sending around 270 messages.
He reportedly offered to take the boy to a rugby game.
In one message, Mr Mackay is alleged to have asked: "Our chats are between us?"
When the teenager says they are, Mr Mackay is alleged to have replied: "Cool, then to be honest I think you are really cute."
In a statement this morning, Mr Mackay said: "I apologise unreservedly to the individual involved and his family.
"I spoke last night with the first minister and tendered my resignation with immediate effect.
"Serving in government has been a huge privilege and I am sorry to have let colleagues and supporters down."
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Mr Mackay's behaviour had "failed to meet the standards required".
She said: "Derek has taken full responsibility for his actions and apologises unreservedly for them to the individual involved and to those he has let down.
"He has submitted his resignation as a government minister which I have accepted."
Mr Mackay is one of the senior figures in the SNP and had been considered a potential candidate for first minister in the future.
