More finger pointing…

It was only recently that SNP business spokewoman Michelle Thomson was suspended from the party after it emerged that police were investigating allegations that her property dealings potentially involved mortgage fraud, she reportedly said that she was looking forward to being cleared of any wrong doing and pledged to co-operate with the Police Scotland probe.

Police sources emphasised that Ms Thomson was not currently subject of an investigation personally, her solicitor, Christopher Hales, was reportedly struck off following his role in 13 deals closely related to Ms Thomson in 2010 and 2011, after he failed to provide key information to mortgage providers which is required as a safeguard against fraud.

The First Minister Nichola Sturgeon immediately faced questions over whether she knew about her MP’s background before she was approved as an SNP candidate. Miss Thomson reportedly built a portfolio of properties worth around £1.7 million, often by negotiating cut-price deals with homeowners.

A police probe was launched on the instructions of the Crown Office after the findings of the tribunal were formally passed on in July.
Following on from the above there is now another issue which has surfaced concerning the SNP which has been described as “a hugely serious one” and demands full investigation. The SNP’s chief executive, Peter Murrell, has been reported to the Electoral Com­mission over claims that he tried to gain an unfair advantage for the “Yes” campaign ahead of the crucial vote last year.

The claims centre on suggestions that Ms Sturgeon’s husband was helping a group called Business for Scotland (BFS), a pro-independence group headed by under-fire SNP MP, Michelle Thomson.

Anyone officially involved in the referendum had to formally register with the Electoral Commission which then set limits on how much they could spend, while also barring individual groups from working together.

 

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

Upfront information: homebuyers want confidence as much as speed

What movers want from upfront information, and it isn’t only speed Having a survey, legal pack and chain details before making an offer would help more than eight in ten respondents, according to LRG’s latest sales report Of the 553 who answered the question, 41% said they would offer with more confidence, although not necessarily…
Read More →
Estate Agents should not all look the same
Estate Agent Talk

How Financial Anxiety Drains Entrepreneurial Energy

Financial anxiety can consume the attention and stamina that business owners need for planning, problem-solving and leading a team. A late payment, an unexpected tax bill or a weak sales month may trigger worry long after working hours have ended. Over time, that mental strain affects sleep, concentration and confidence. The answer starts with creating…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

How to future-proof a rental property for changing tenant expectations

Over the past decade or so, tenants have become far more discerning. For more and more people, renting is a long-term prospect and today’s tenants expect their homes to be as safe and comfortable as any home they would own themselves. And as legislation around standards and health and safety in the private rented sector…
Read More →
Breaking News

More than a third of homes undergo price reduction

The latest research from GetAgent.co.uk has revealed that more than a third (34.4%) of homes sold subject to contract (SSTC) across Britain’s major cities have undergone an asking price reduction, with this figure climbing to more than half in Bournemouth, raising questions over whether sellers, and their agents, are pricing their properties realistically when first…
Read More →
Breaking News

‘Explosion’ in e-signature use at Land Registry spells progress for homebuying reform

The number of e-signatures used at Land Registry has exploded in the latest quarter — jumping more than ten times in just three months to 643, Novus Strategy can reveal. Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) are a central plank of the revolution unfolding in homebuying because they reduce friction and save time. It’s a combination of…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

The Flats Above the Shop Problem

Why residential property hidden inside commercial ownership keeps causing trouble By Adam Hills, Client Services Director, LRG Living Markets Somewhere in many commercial property portfolios sits a small collection of front doors that was never really part of the plan. Many large and small retailers inherit residential property portfolios by default as part of mixed-use…
Read More →