PRESSURE is growing on the SNP in the wake of the scandal engulfing an MP’s business dealings after it was revealed a prominent member was linked to the controversial politician’s property business.
An SNP candidate in next year’s Scottish election has become embroiled in the row over MP Michelle Thomson buy-to-let portfolio, after it emerged he hired one of her firms that specialises in purchasing homes below market value.
The Nationalists confirmed that Ivan McKee, who is contesting Glasgow Provan for Holyrood next year, used Ms Thomson for identifying sales and tenant services.
Ms Thomson withdrew from the party’s whip at Westminster last week following revelations about her activities in the property market and the way vulnerable sellers had been treated.
Christopher Hales was struck off as a solicitor for the role he played in 13 transactions relating to M&F Property Solutions, which had Ms Thomson as a partner.
In one case, her then-business associate Frank Gilbride purchased a property from a cancer sufferer for £64,000 and sold it to Ms Thomson on the same day for £95,000. Ms Thomson then received “cashback” from Mr Gilbride of around £28,000.
The deal was one of a number of “back to back” sales that are now the focus of a police investigation.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has denied all knowledge of Ms Thomson’s property deals.
Mr McKee, like Ms Thomson, was a board member on the pro-independence Business for Scotland.
He purchased three properties to let out in Edinburgh during 2013 and 2014, using the services of Ms Thomson’s company, which no longer provides any services for him.
It is understood no mortgages were involved in the purchase of the properties and they have not been resold.
An SNP spokesman added that Mr McKee hired Ms Thomson’s Your Property Shop Ltd to identify properties and find and manage tenants.
The firm’s website is no longer available but a retrieved web-link is clear about some of the services on offer: “Here at Your Property Shop we regularly source some wonderful deals for our investors. Wonderful to an investor means obtained at significantly below the current market value. But is it wonderful for the vendor? Well, you know what – it should be.”
It continued: “Sometimes we come across people who have found themselves in difficult and trying circumstances. We hear some truly tragic stories about sudden deaths, messy divorces and terrible debt.”
The website also flagged up the company’s ethics: “Trading and selling is part and parcel of humanity. The best know that having ethical drivers really works, and that it makes for good business. Challenge your sourcers to see how their behaviour stacks up.”
The MP is listed as the sole director and shareholder of the firm, which was incorporated in May 2013.
Ms Thomson, who has denied wrongdoing and has said she is happy to co-operate with the police, gave Mr McKee a fulsome testimonial ahead of his successful selection for Glasgow Provan in August.
She wrote: “Ivan’s support for the SNP team at Westminster has been invaluable. He’ll be a tremendous asset to Holyrood and to any seat fortunate enough to have him as their MSP.”
However Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said: “I note Mr McKee still owns these properties. He should now publish full details of these transactions including what services he received from Michelle Thomson’s companies.”
Scottish Conservative chief whip John Lamont said: “Given the severity of the accusations, the SNP should explain at once exactly how Ms Thomson’s services helped this budding MSP in the Edinburgh property sector.”
Ms Thomson declined to comment.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel