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SNP face Trump resort probe call SNP face Trump resort probe call
(about 5 hours later)
The Liberal Democrats have called for a parliamentary inquiry into the handling of the proposed £1bn Trump golf resort in Aberdeenshire. The Liberal Democrats have called for an inquiry into the handling of Donald Trump's planned £1bn golf resort.
It comes as the leader of the CBI in Scotland has backed the Scottish Government's decision to call in the application for reconsideration. It came as the leader of the Scottish CBI backed the SNP's decision to have the final say on the proposals.
The LibDems are expected to present their motion calling for an inquiry in the next week. Labour and the Tories said they would consider backing the call for a parliamentary inquiry.
To succeed they would require backing from both the Conservatives and Labour. Questions have been asked over the role of senior government figures, but SNP MSP Alex Neil said an inquiry was a "complete waste of time".
The application to build a "world class" golf resort by US tycoon Donald Trump was rejected by a casting vote by Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure committee. First Minister Alex Salmond met Donald Trump's representatives the day before ministers decided to "call in" the golf resort plans for the Menie Estate, following its rejection on the casting vote by Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure committee.
This is much more important than simply an isolated inward investment project for the north east of Scotland Iain McMillanCBI Scotland director Everybody in the Scottish Government has followed all the codes to the letter and everything has been done according to the rule book Alex NeilSNP MSP
But the development, consisting of two championship golf courses, 950 holiday homes and 36 golf villas, was then called in by the SNP. He is forbidden from taking part in the planning process but insisted that, because the plans for two championship golf courses, 950 holiday homes and 36 golf villas fell into his Gordon constituency, he was duty bound to meet people on all sides.
Last week, LibDem leader Nicol Stephen claimed the Scottish Government's involvement in Donald Trump's plans smelt of "sleaze". It also emerged that, on the day ministers called in the Trump application, Aberdeenshire Council confirmed it had terminated a call with the government's chief planner, Jim McKinnon, as Mr Trump's team was also present.
Mr Stephen said he wanted to restore public confidence in the openness and transparency of the government's handling of cases such as this. The government said members of the Trump organisation were in the room with Mr McKinnon at the start of the first of two phone conversations, but not when the discussion took place.
Ministers will have the final say on whether the £1bn proposals for the Menie Estate get the go-ahead. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen told BBC Scotland's Politics Show that he wanted to see the Trump development go ahead, but said there were questions to be asked over whether there had been improper behaviour.
First Minister Alex Salmond said he had followed the rules "to the letter". 'No fear'
CBI Scotland director Iain McMillan said: "We are wholly supportive of the decision of the Scottish Government to call the planning application in. The Aberdeen South MSP, and former deputy first minister, said: "It's about the integrity of the planning system, it's about whether there is to be a different approach, a different set of rules for a rich American applicant compared to everyone else who has to go through the planning process."
"This is much more important than simply an isolated inward investment project for the north east of Scotland. Asked whether an inquiry would damage Scotland's international business reputation or scare off Mr Trump altogether, he said: "That sort of line of questioning suggests that the end justifies the means and that you can manipulate, that you can bend or break the rules, that you can have illegal behaviour, because we are not certain here that the town and country planning acts have been followed."
Mr Neil said the SNP had nothing to fear from an inquiry, adding: "It's unnecessary and a complete waste of time.
Ministers will decide on the Trump plans for the Menie Estate
"There's no need for an inquiry, there's no justification for an inquiry, because everybody in the Scottish Government has followed all the codes to the letter and everything has been done according to the rule book."
Mr Neil also claimed Mr Stephen broke the ministerial code of conduct during the last Scottish government by coming out in favour of a particular route for the planned Aberdeen bypass.
The Scottish Government said MSPs had asked a large number of parliamentary questions on the Trump application and that information gathered by officials was currently being considered by Finance Secretary John Swinney, who will make the final decision on the plans.
"Once Mr Swinney is satisfied that the material properly addresses the issues raised, he will make it public," a government response stated.
Meanwhile, CBI Scotland director Iain McMillan said his organisation was "wholly supportive" of the government's decision to call in the planning application.
"This is much more important than simply an isolated inward investment project for the north east of Scotland," he said.
"It matters to Scotland as a whole and what the Scottish Government has done is absolutely right in our view.""It matters to Scotland as a whole and what the Scottish Government has done is absolutely right in our view."