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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Salmond's Trump golf team meeting | Salmond's Trump golf team meeting |
| (about 19 hours 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. | 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, last Monday at the five-star Marcliffe hotel in Aberdeen, took place. | Despite the assurance, opposition parties have expressed concerns that the meeting, last Monday at the five-star Marcliffe hotel in Aberdeen, took place. |
| As first minister I have been advised to make no public statement either for or against the proposed development, and I have abided by that to the letter Alex Salmond,First Minister | As first minister I have been advised to make no public statement either for or against the proposed development, and I have abided by that to the letter Alex Salmond,First Minister |
| BBC Scotland has also learned that the Scottish Government's chief planner, Jim McKinnon, held his own talks with Mr Trump's team. | BBC Scotland has also learned that the Scottish Government's chief planner, Jim McKinnon, held his own talks with Mr 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. |
| Ministers stepped in after the controversial application was rejected when it went before Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure committee, on the casting vote of its chairman. | Ministers stepped in after the controversial application was rejected when it went before Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure committee, on the casting vote of its chairman. |
| The issue, said the government, required consideration at a national level. | The issue, said the government, required consideration at a national level. |
| Labour MSP Johann Lamont told BBC Scotland's Politics Show that, during her time as a planning minister, she was advised to be "very cautious" who she met on planning matters. | Labour MSP Johann Lamont told BBC Scotland's Politics Show that, during her time as a planning minister, she was advised to be "very cautious" who she met on planning matters. |
| She added: "This feels very uncomfortable and says something very odd about Alex Salmond's trumpeted new relationship with local government. | She added: "This feels very uncomfortable and says something very odd about Alex Salmond's trumpeted new relationship with local government. |
| "He believes in a partnership with local government, they take their responsibilities seriously. Apparently he then just moves in when he doesn't like the answer he's getting." | "He believes in a partnership with local government, they take their responsibilities seriously. Apparently he then just moves in when he doesn't like the answer he's getting." |
| 'Sensitive' situation | 'Sensitive' situation |
| Tory parliamentary business spokesman David McLetchie 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 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. |
| "He is responsible for the ministerial code of conduct, which says that you shouldn't even give the appearance of a conflict of interest. | "He is responsible for the ministerial code of conduct, which says that you shouldn't even give the appearance of a conflict of interest. |
| "There are a huge number of questions here and it does smell, I'm afraid." | "There are a huge number of questions here and it does smell, I'm afraid." |
| 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 the constituency MSP, not only am I absolutely entitled but I have a bounden duty under the parliamentary code to meet people on all issues of importance to my constituency. | Mr Salmond said: "As the constituency MSP, not only am I absolutely entitled but I have a bounden duty under the parliamentary code to meet people on all issues of importance to my constituency. |
| "I have met people on both sides of the debate. Last Monday, I met members of the Trump organisation in Aberdeen. | "I have met people on both sides of the debate. Last Monday, I met members of the Trump organisation in Aberdeen. |
| "As first minister I have been advised to make no public statement either for or against the proposed development, and I have abided by that to the letter." | "As first minister I have been advised to make no public statement either for or against the proposed development, and I have abided by that to the letter." |
| Mr Salmond has met with critics of the development, including local farmer Michael Forbes and the campaign group Sustainable Aberdeenshire. | Mr Salmond has met with critics of the development, including local farmer Michael Forbes and the campaign group Sustainable Aberdeenshire. |
| However, the group's David Milne said: "We only succeeded in getting contact with him at his constituency office a couple of months ago after some considerable effort." | However, the group's David Milne said: "We only succeeded in getting contact with him at his constituency office a couple of months ago after some considerable effort." |
| Finance Secretary John Swinney will have the final say on the Trump International Links scheme, which would include two championship golf courses and 1,500 homes. | Finance Secretary John Swinney will have the final say on the Trump International Links scheme, which would include two championship golf courses and 1,500 homes. |