SNP dismisses 'absurd' Labour claims over donor

Published on Sunday 27 January 2008 21:24

SCOTTISH ministers hit back last night over claims they had stepped in "inappropriately" to save a leading SNP donor's £80 million development.

Labour has raised questions over the Scottish Government's role in the proposed expansion of Aviemore Highland Resort, whose chief executive, Donald Macdonald, is an SNP donor.

Alex Salmond, the First Minister, contacted Holyrood's chief planner last month after a planning application was delayed,

due to concerns raised by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa).

Mr Salmond approached the chief planner and Mike Russell, the environment minister, contacted Sepa after being asked to help by a cross-party group of MSPs and MPs.

Sepa later withdrew its concerns and the development was approved.

Andy Kerr, a Labour MSP, said Mr Salmond should not have become involved in the planning application and that his intervention was "inappropriate".

Yesterday a spokesman for the First Minister insisted Mr Salmond had acted properly.

"Rapid government action potentially saved hundreds of jobs in the Highlands and enabled a decision to be taken on an important economic development," he said. "To any right-thinking person, that is a matter of pride and achievement."

He said the suggestion Mr Salmond had been influenced by Mr Macdonald being an SNP donor was "absurd".

&#149 The First Minister has been asked to intervene to help save Europe's biggest on-shore wind farm. An informal meeting of Western Isles councillors voted at the weekend to write to Mr Salmond, asking him to step in to save the 176-turbine development on Lewis.