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Salmond's Trump action 'cavalier' Salmond's Trump action 'cavalier'
(40 minutes later)
First Minister Alex Salmond took a "cavalier" approach to his involvement with Donald Trump's £1bn Scottish golf resort, a parliament committee said.First Minister Alex Salmond took a "cavalier" approach to his involvement with Donald Trump's £1bn Scottish golf resort, a parliament committee said.
Holyrood's local government committee raised concern that a government decision to call in the plans came after "two five-minute phone calls".Holyrood's local government committee raised concern that a government decision to call in the plans came after "two five-minute phone calls".
But, following an inquiry, the cross-party committee described the unprecedented decision as "competent". But, following an inquiry, it said the unprecedented decision was "competent".
Several SNP committee members disagreed with a series of its conclusions. The Scottish Government said the probe had found ministers and officials had acted within planning law.
The local government committee launched its inquiry amid concerns of the government's handling of the application, for the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire. The cross-party local government committee launched the inquiry amid concerns of the government's handling of the planned luxury resort, for the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire.
The conclusions are based entirely on innuendo and accusation Kenny GibsonLocal government committee deputy convener We are bitterly disappointed we had to go through this entire process which has been a major distraction for all concerned George SorialTrump Organisation
The Scottish Government decided to have the final say on the plans after they were narrowly rejected by Aberdeenshire Council. They will now come before a public inquiry, due to start in June. However, its deputy convener and other committee members disagreed with several of its conclusions, while the Trump Organisation expressed "bitter disappointment" with the exercise.
Mr Salmond had met with Mr Trump's representatives before the call-in, but insisted he did nothing wrong, saying meeting all sides of the debate was vital, given that the development is planned for his Gordon constituency. The Scottish Government decided to have the final say on the golf plans after they were narrowly rejected by Aberdeenshire Council. They will now come before a public inquiry, due to start in June.
In its findings, the local government committee convener Duncan McNeil also said it was "extremely unwise" for the first minister to "directly facilitate" a meeting between Trump representatives and Scotland's chief planner, Jim Mackinnon. Mr Salmond had seen Mr Trump's representatives before the call-in, but insisted he did nothing wrong, saying meeting all sides of the debate was vital, given the development was planned for his Gordon constituency.
In its findings, the local government committee convener and Labour MSP Duncan McNeil also said it was "extremely unwise" for the first minister to "directly facilitate" a meeting between Trump representatives and Scotland's chief planner, Jim Mackinnon.
READ THE REPORT Planning application processes [28KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader hereREAD THE REPORT Planning application processes [28KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
The committee report stated it seemed "astonishing" to accept Mr Salmond - who is removed from the decision-making process in the application - did not perceive there might be a risk in his actions, which might then lead to legal action. The committee report stated it seemed "astonishing" to accept Mr Salmond - who is removed from the decision-making process in the application - did not perceive there might be a risk in his actions, which might lead to legal action.
"The committee believes that, far from taking a precautionary approach, the first minister was cavalier in his actions and displayed, at best, exceptionally poor judgement and a worrying lack of awareness about the consequence of his actions," the report concluded."The committee believes that, far from taking a precautionary approach, the first minister was cavalier in his actions and displayed, at best, exceptionally poor judgement and a worrying lack of awareness about the consequence of his actions," the report concluded.
But the committee's deputy convener, Nationalist MSP Kenny Gibson, said the inquiry had wasted months of parliamentary time on "political tittle-tattle" and found no wrong-doing on the part of Mr Salmond and other ministers. But committee deputy convener, Nationalist MSP Kenny Gibson, said the inquiry had wasted months of parliamentary time on "political tittle-tattle" and found no wrong-doing on the part of Mr Salmond and other ministers.
"Instead of using that evidence, the conclusions are based entirely on innuendo and accusation," added Mr Gibson, who along with committee members and SNP MSP colleagues Alasdair Allan and Bob Doris dissented from several parts of the report. "Instead of using that evidence, the conclusions are based entirely on innuendo and accusation," added Mr Gibson, who, along with committee members and SNP MSP colleagues Alasdair Allan and Bob Doris, dissented from several parts of the report.
Mr Trump's spokesman George Sorial said: "The committee has not found any evidence for the claims that were made both against Mr Salmond and the Trump Organisation because there were none.
"We are bitterly disappointed we had to go through this entire process which has been a major distraction for all concerned."
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Ministers are pleased the committee has been able to produce a report which concludes ministers and officials acted in accordance with planning laws when issuing the decision to call in the application, just as the matter has been dealt with properly at every stage."