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| Salmond's Trump golf team meeting | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| First Minister Alex Salmond met Donald Trump's representatives the day before ministers decided to have the final say on his golf resort plans. | |
| The £1bn proposals for Aberdeenshire's Menie Estate were rejected by the local authority but were "called in" by ministers last Tuesday. | The £1bn proposals for Aberdeenshire's Menie Estate were rejected by the local authority but were "called in" by ministers last Tuesday. |
| Mr Salmond is forbidden to take part in the planning process. | Mr Salmond is forbidden to take part in the planning process. |
| He insisted that because the plans fell into his Gordon constituency, he was duty bound to meet people on all sides. | He insisted that because the plans fell into his Gordon constituency, he was duty bound to meet people on all sides. |
| Despite the assurance, opposition parties have expressed concerns that the meeting, on Monday at the five-star Marcliffe hotel in Aberdeen, took place. | Despite the assurance, opposition parties have expressed concerns that the meeting, on Monday at the five-star Marcliffe hotel in Aberdeen, took place. |
| As first minister I am excluded from the planning process and cannot make a public statement either for or against the decision Alex Salmond,First Minister | As first minister I am excluded from the planning process and cannot make a public statement either for or against the decision Alex Salmond,First Minister |
| BBC Scotland has also learned that the Scottish Government's chief planner, Jim McKinnon, held his own talks with Donald Trump's team. | BBC Scotland has also learned that the Scottish Government's chief planner, Jim McKinnon, held his own talks with Donald Trump's team. |
| The government said it was to explain the role of Scottish ministers in planning applications and appeals. | The government said it was to explain the role of Scottish ministers in planning applications and appeals. |
| Scottish ministers stepped in after the controversial application was rejected when it came before Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure committee, on the casting vote of its chairman. | Scottish ministers stepped in after the controversial application was rejected when it came before Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure committee, on the casting vote of its chairman. |
| The government said the issue required consideration at a national level. | The government said the issue required consideration at a national level. |
| However, Labour MSP and former planning minister Johann Lamont urged caution over the meeting. | However, Labour MSP and former planning minister Johann Lamont urged caution over the meeting. |
| She told BBC Scotland's Politics Show: "What we need to be clear about is the process that was carried forward. | She told BBC Scotland's Politics Show: "What we need to be clear about is the process that was carried forward. |
| "I was always advised as planning minister to be very cautious who I met with and who I spoke to in relation to planning matters." | "I was always advised as planning minister to be very cautious who I met with and who I spoke to in relation to planning matters." |
| 'Sensitive' situation | 'Sensitive' situation |
| Tory parliamentary business spokesman David McLetchie MSP said people would "smell a rat", adding: "There are already lots of concerns about the decision to call in the application. | Tory parliamentary business spokesman David McLetchie MSP said people would "smell a rat", adding: "There are already lots of concerns about the decision to call in the application. |
| "This will confirm many people's fears that this application is now a shoe-in and it's going to be rubber-stamped by the Scottish ministers, irrespective of what was decided locally." | "This will confirm many people's fears that this application is now a shoe-in and it's going to be rubber-stamped by the Scottish ministers, irrespective of what was decided locally." |
| Lib Dem Aberdeenshire MSP Mike Rumbles said the meeting had demonstrated a lack of openness and transparency. | Lib Dem Aberdeenshire MSP Mike Rumbles said the meeting had demonstrated a lack of openness and transparency. |
| "I would be astounded if Alex Salmond was holding a constituency advice surgery at the Marcliffe hotel," he said. | "I would be astounded if Alex Salmond was holding a constituency advice surgery at the Marcliffe hotel," he said. |
| George Sorial, Mr Trump's main representative in Scotland, would neither confirm nor deny the Marcliffe talks, because "things are so sensitive right now". | George Sorial, Mr Trump's main representative in Scotland, would neither confirm nor deny the Marcliffe talks, because "things are so sensitive right now". |
| Mr Salmond said: "As a constituency MSP I have met many people on all sides of the debate, as I am duty bound to do under the Scottish Parliament code, and on Monday I met members of the Trump organisation in Aberdeen. | Mr Salmond said: "As a constituency MSP I have met many people on all sides of the debate, as I am duty bound to do under the Scottish Parliament code, and on Monday I met members of the Trump organisation in Aberdeen. |
| "As first minister I am excluded from the planning process and cannot make a public statement either for or against the decision." | "As first minister I am excluded from the planning process and cannot make a public statement either for or against the decision." |
| The Trump International Links scheme in Aberdeenshire would include two championship golf courses and 1,500 homes. | The Trump International Links scheme in Aberdeenshire would include two championship golf courses and 1,500 homes. |