HOLYROOD is set to hold a vote on whether to investigate “shadowy dealings” in relation to the financing of Donald Trump’s Scottish golf courses.
MSPs will debate the implementation of an Unexplained Wealth Order later this week, the Scotsman has reported.
Though non-binding, the Holyrood discussion will lay out proposals for the Scottish Government to apply to the Court of Session and address concerns about how Trump’s holdings in Scotland were acquired.
The topic has been debated three times in the past year, and those behind the latest vote hope it will pile pressure on the First Minister to act.
Scottish greens co-convenor Patrick Harvie, who has brought the opposition debate, said: “The Scottish Government has tried to avoid the question of investigating Donald Trump’s wealth for far too long. There are serious concerns about how he financed the cash purchases of his Scottish golf courses, but no investigation has ever taken place.”
Aidan O’Neill QC had said that Scottish ministers have responsibility for pursuing an Unexplained Wealth Order, dubbed a "McMafia" order.
Asked about the matter last month, Nicola Sturgeon said she had not read his argument “in detail”. She explained the Scottish Government has its own sources of legal advice and these are matters which lie with the Lord Advocate.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon has a message for Donald Trump on inauguration day
This week’s debate is expected to challenge the Government’s legal reasoning.
Harvie urged the First Minister to take decisive action. He added: “Nicola Sturgeon’s claims that it has nothing to do with her have been shown to be untrue. It’s long past time the government demonstrated that Scotland cannot be a country where anyone with the money can buy whatever land and property they want, no questions asked.
“That’s why I’m bringing this vote to Parliament. The Government must seek an unexplained wealth order to shine a light on Trump’s shadowy dealings.”
Concerns about Trump’s business dealings in Scotland predate his election as US president.
The Trump Organisation has not commented, but Trump and his company have always denied they used outside financing for their Scottish properties, which are yet to turn a profit under his ownership.
Speaking on the day Joe Biden was inaugurated as Trump’s successor, Sturgeon has some choice words for the outgoing president.
“Well firstly I’m sure many of us across the Chamber and across Scotland will be very happy to say cheerio to Donald Trump today,” she said. “I think ‘don’t haste you back’ might be the perfect rejoinder to him.”
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