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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 Aberdeenshire golf resort plan "smells of sleaze", the Liberal Democrats have claimed.The Scottish government's involvement in Donald Trump's Aberdeenshire golf resort plan "smells of sleaze", the Liberal Democrats have claimed.
The accusation came as Aberdeenshire Council confirmed it terminated a call with the government's chief planner, because Mr Trump's team was present.The accusation came as Aberdeenshire Council confirmed it terminated a call with the government's chief planner, because Mr Trump's team was present.
Ministers will have the final say on whether the £1bn proposals for the Menie Estate get the go-ahead.Ministers will have the final say on whether the £1bn proposals for the Menie Estate get the go-ahead.
First Minister Alex Salmond said he had followed the rules "to the letter".First Minister Alex Salmond said he had followed the rules "to the letter".
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 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.
Every step of the way there is contradiction, concealment and cleverness Nicol StephenLiberal Democrat leader Every step of the way there is contradiction, concealment and cleverness Nicol StephenLiberal Democrat leader class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7142696.stm">Room for confusion
The proposals had been narrowly rejected by Aberdeenshire councillors.The proposals had been narrowly rejected by Aberdeenshire councillors.
During question time at Holyrood, Mr Salmond also came under pressure for meeting with Mr Trump's representatives.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.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."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 Trump's plans had been rejected by councillorsMr Trump's plans had been rejected by councillors
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. On Wednesday, the councillor whose casting vote saw Mr Trump's plans rejected, Martin Ford, was sacked as the chairman of the infrastructure committee at an emergency meeting of Aberdeenshire Council.
"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. In a statement, the council's chief executive Alan Campbell said he had conducted two phone calls with the chief planner on the afternoon of 4 December.
"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 first call was about the procedure which Aberdeenshire Council were likely to adopt at their special meeting. It was in that context that the chief executive was informed by the chief planner that members of the Trump organisation were in the chief planner's 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. "The chief executive asked that they leave the room. The discussion then took place."
The council said Mr Campbell recieved a call from the chief planner several hours later on the issue of ministers calling in the application, adding: "There was no question of the Trump organisation being with the chief planner at that time."