Scottish lawmaker resigns over Filipino comments

A Scottish lawmaker was forced to quit his role on a parliamentary committee after being caught on microphone saying a woman in the audience was "very attractive" with "that Filipino look."

Frank McAveety, a Labour politician, stepped down as chairman of the public petitions committee Wednesday after his inappropriate comments were picked up as he convened a meeting of the body.

The former Scottish government minister also quit as sport spokesman for the Labour party in Scotland.

The 47-year-old member of the Scottish parliament's remarks were caught on microphone as witnesses changed places at the committee meeting Tuesday.

He was heard saying to a committee clerk: "There's a very attractive girl in the second row. Dark and dusky. I'll maybe have to put a wee word out for her.

"She's very attractive-looking. Nice, very nice.

"The heat's getting to me. True, true, true.

"She's got that Filipino look, you know the kind you would see in a Gauguin painting. There's a wee bit of culture."

He decided to resign after his comments appeared in media reports.

The Scottish parliament was set up in the late 1990s after Scots backed the idea of devolving powers from London in a referendum.

The pro-independence Scottish National Party, led by First Minister Alex Salmond, holds power in Scotland.