JACKSON Carlaw’s leadership campaign was boosted by a £5000 donation from a former Labour donor who lives in an overseas tax-haven.
Details of the gift from Jersey-based property tycoon Alan Massie were revealed today on the Tory MSP's register of interests.
Other donations for his succesful bid to replace Ruth Davidson included £5000 from former Scottish Tory treasurer James Stewart and £10000 from Peak Scientific, a Renfrewshire company which makes electric motors, generators and transformers.
The firm run by Robin MacGeachy has previously donated to the Scottish Tories and Better Together.
Massie, a director of Aberdeen property developers Carlton Rock was previously one of Labour’s top private donors.
He handed the party more than £400,000 between 2011 and 2016, and also made three donations worth a total of £20,000 to an Aberdeen LibDem branch in 2006 and 2007.
The businessman revealed that he had switched to the Tories because Labour could not be “trusted with the Union”.
READ MORE: Carlaw sacks Tory leadership rival in shadow cabinet reshuffle
Last year Massie helped the former Aberdeen South MP Ross Thomson after he found himself in a spot of legal bother after joking that Ian Blackford was a “simple arms dealer”.
The jibe followed reports that the SNP's Westminster leader had profited from defence deals.
After comments made on social media, Massie picked up a £1800 bill for Thomson to consult a QC.
The Tory subsequently apologised in a private phone call to Blackford and the matter was dropped.
Massie also donated £10,000 to Michael Gove’s unsuccessful campaign for the Tory leadership.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel