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SNP Trump move 'smells of sleaze' SNP Trump move 'smells of sleaze'
(about 1 hour later)
The Scottish government's involvement in Donald Trump's golf resort plan "smells of sleaze", Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen has claimed. The Scottish government's involvement in Donald Trump's Aberdeenshire golf resort plan "smells of sleaze", the Liberal Democrats have claimed.
The government will have the final say on whether the £1bn proposals for Aberdeenshire get the go-ahead, after being rejected by the local council. The accusation came as Aberdeenshire Council confirmed it terminated a call with the government's chief planner, because Mr Trump's team was present.
That move came the day after Alex Salmond met with team Trump. Ministers will have the final say on whether the £1bn proposals for the Menie Estate get the go-ahead.
During question time at Holyrood, the first minister said he had followed the rules "to the letter". First Minister Alex Salmond said he had followed the rules "to the letter".
Mr Salmond is forbidden from taking part in the planning process and has insisted that, because the plans fell into his Gordon constituency, he was duty bound to meet people on all sides. The government decided to "call in" the plans for the Menie Estate the same day that its chief planner, Jim McKinnon, held talks with Mr Trump's team, to explain the role of Scottish ministers in planning applications and appeals.
The Scottish Government's chief planner, Jim McKinnon, also held his own talks with Mr Trump's team, to explain the role of Scottish ministers in planning applications and appeals. Every step of the way there is contradiction, concealment and cleverness Nicol StephenLiberal Democrat leader
'Serious situation' The proposals had been narrowly rejected by Aberdeenshire councillors.
Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen said Aberdeenshire Council would confirm that they had to ask for Trump representatives to leave the chief planner's room during a phone conversation last Tuesday, the day ministers decided to call the proposals in. During question time at Holyrood, Mr Salmond also came under pressure for meeting with Mr Trump's representatives.
He is forbidden from taking part in the planning process and has insisted that, because the plans fell into his Gordon constituency, he was duty bound to meet people on all sides.
Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen said: "This is a serious situation for the first minister and his government. Every step of the way there is contradiction, concealment and cleverness from his government on this issue. It smells of sleaze."
Mr Salmond told MSPs: "I wasn't there, its not my responsibility. I am debarred from any decision-making in the planning process. Why on earth would I therefore know the answer to that question since I was not in the room or with the chief planner at the time."Mr Salmond told MSPs: "I wasn't there, its not my responsibility. I am debarred from any decision-making in the planning process. Why on earth would I therefore know the answer to that question since I was not in the room or with the chief planner at the time."
Mr Stephen said: "This is a serious situation for the first minister and his government. Every step of the way there is contradiction, concealment and cleverness from his government on this issue. it smells of sleaze." Mr Trump's plans had been rejected by councillors
The councillor whose casting vote saw off Mr Trump's plans for the Menie estate, Martin Ford, was unseated as chairman of the infrastructure committee at an emergency meeting of Aberdeenshire Council on Wednesday. In a statement, Aberdeenshire Council confirmed that a phone call took place between its chief executive and Mr McKinnon the day ministers called in the application.
"When Aberdeenshire Council's chief executive was informed that members of the Trump organisation were in the chief planner's room and were listening to the conversation, Aberdeenshire Council's chief executive asked to terminate the call until the Trump organisation left the room," the authority said.
"The chief executive was informed of the intention of the government to call-in the application after the Trump organisation had left the room."
The councillor whose casting vote originally saw off Mr Trump's plans, Martin Ford, was unseated as chairman of the infrastructure committee at an emergency meeting of Aberdeenshire Council.