Law Society ‘should release’ Michelle Thomson files

NICOLA Sturgeon has demanded the Law Society of Scotland should publish all documents it has on its investigation into property deals linked to Michelle Thomson MP.

SNP MP Michelle Thomson. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

At First Minister’s Questions, Ms Sturgeon once more faced questions about the property transactions that have led to Mrs Thomson being suspended from the SNP. The Scottish Labour leader pressed the First Minister on the role of the Law Society in the case.

Controversy has arisen because it took the Law Society more than a year to formally report its concerns about the deals to the Crown Office.

Mrs Thomson’s solicitor Christopher Hales was struck off in May last year. The Law Society informally notified the Crown in December last year and then again in April this year – just before the General Election. However, it was not until July this year that a formal report was made to Scotland’s prosecutors.

Mrs Thomson has always maintained she has acted within the law.

At Holyrood, Kezia Dugdale said the Scottish public would not accept “any perception, fair or otherwise, that the Scottish establishment is closing ranks to protect one of its own” and asked the First Minister to publish all papers relating to the matter.

Ms Sturgeon said: “I think the Law Society should try and answer all and any questions that are directed to it. I cannot answer on behalf of an independent organisation, but I would welcome publication of any or all documents relating to this case.”

Meanwhile, Westminster’s standards watchdog is set to rule out an investigation into Mrs Thomson’s property deals – because they took place before she was an MP.

A Tory backbencher said this week he had written to the Westminster sleaze watchdog raising “serious questions”.

SEE ALSO: Michelle Thomson property row: All you need to know