McConnell 'broke rules' on £300m Trump golf deal

Published on Sunday 23 April 2006 00:16

JACK McConnell has been accused of breaking the ministerial code of conduct by backing a luxury golf resort planned for Scotland by billionaire Donald Trump.

Scotland on Sunday can reveal the First Minister's close association with Trump may have broken strict rules which require ministers to remain neutral about planning applications before they are decided.

Green campaigners, and senior councillors in Aberdeenshire, where the resort is planned, are furious at McConnell's enthusiastic backing for the project despite serious environmental concerns. They accuse of him of putting too much effort into impressing rich businessmen rather than looking after Scotland's long-term interests.

Last night, there were calls for an inquiry into the conduct of the First Minister, who will this week travel to the Menie Estate, north of Aberdeen, for a meeting with Trump.

The tycoon wants to invest 300m in a links course, luxury hotel and housing on the estate. But opponents of the plan say it will ruin one of Scotland's most pristine stretches of coastline. Despite the mounting concern, McConnell has already met Trump twice in the US, and had numerous phone calls with him.

But on planning issues, the ministerial code of conduct clearly stipulates that ministers "must do nothing which might be seen as prejudicial to that process, particularly in advance of the decision being taken".

It adds: "Action that might be viewed as being prejudicial includes meeting the developer or objectors to discuss the proposal, but not meeting all parties with an interest in the decision."

The Executive could also face allegations of a conflict of interest as it may be asked, as the authority on planning matters in Scotland, to approve or reject the Trump plan if it is turned down by the local council.

The project has already been mired in controversy after Trump declared he would pull out unless a wind farm being planned for Aberdeen Bay was moved away from the site.

Scotland on Sunday can also reveal today that the consultant hired by Trump to advance his Scottish plans has been trying to buy up privately-owned homes on the estate using a false identity.

Neil Hobday, the UK Project Manager for the planned Trump International Golf Resort,

admits he used his middle names, Peter White, in a bid to help conceal the identity of his employer and avoid paying a premium for the properties.

A spokesman for the Green party said: "There should be an investigation into McConnell's conduct. I find it difficult to believe that this scheme didn't come up through those many phone calls they had. It is hard to believe that it wouldn't have been discussed."

He added: "If Jack McConnell had put as much effort into getting our renewable energy projects off the ground as he has spent trying to impress rich businessmen from abroad then the future of Scotland would be in much safer hands."

A source within the Scottish Wildlife Trust added: "Jack McConnell is right to encourage inward investment but you have to hope he has not given any promises."

Local councillors are also furious at what they see as the heavy-handed interference from central government over the project. Trump's company will submit a planning application next month to Aberdeenshire council, which will make the decision over the golf resort.

The LibDem councillor in whose ward the area sits, Debra Storr, said: "If a councillor had acted like Mr McConnell then he wouldn't be able to take any further part in the matter. It would be a breach of the code of conduct."

John Loveday, chairman of the Formartine Area Committee, which will decide on the planning application, added: "I am concerned when the Executive and the Scottish Parliament try and interfere with local matters. We may welcome this development, but we take the decision and we object to people saying it will go ahead when it won't necessarily. We will make the decision."

A spokesman for the First Minister insisted McConnell had been careful not to discuss the details of the project and had therefore not broken any rules. "He has been very careful not to say or do anything on the planning application. You couldn't have a situation where a minister wasn't able to meet a developer. When he has been discussing things with Mr Trump, he has been talking about his interest in Scotland, not going into the details."

The plans for the course are welcomed by many councillors in the region, but there is less enthusiasm over plans to build a hotel and holiday units alongside it. The beach area is a site of special scientific interest and is certified in the local plan as "undeveloped coast", thereby having many of the same regulations as does green-belt land.

Further concern has been expressed over attempts by the Trump organisation to buy up the homes of locals in the area to improve the value of the estate.

Neil Hobday, Trump's UK Project Manager,

claimed using his middle names to try to negotiate a transaction was "standard commercial practice".

Hobday said: "Jack McConnell has done a fantastic job fighting for Scotland the Brand.

"He got on the plane to New York and shook Donald Trump's hand. That the First Minister of Scotland went to see him and said we would love to have your resort in Scotland made a big impression."

Hobday said that as far as the Trump organisation was concerned, the resort was a "done deal".

"It's a done deal from the point of view that Mr Trump is committed to the project. But as with any property venture - whether a skyscraper in New York or a golf course in Scotland - it depends on the proper planning process."

Hobday denied Trump had received any assurances from McConnell that planning permission was a formality. "I don't think that Jack has said that. He said there was a process to go through. I don't think he has said we can circumnavigate this process or even fast-track it."