Police investigate senior SNP MP over £1.7m property deals

The SNP suspended Thomson’s party membership on Tuesday after she voluntarily stood down as its business spokeswoman and withdrew from the party whip at Westminster when it emerged that Police Scotland were investigating 13 property deals she was linked to.

Prosecutors have instructed police to carry out an investigation into “alleged irregularities” relating to property deals in the year 2010/11 after the case was referred to the Crown Office by the Law Society of Scotland.

John Lamont, Scottish Conservative Chief Whip, said: “The SNP is using ignorance as an excuse, as it so often does when suspicions arise around the party or its members”.

“I have this afternoon chose to withdraw from the party whip whilst an investigation takes place”.

His statement said: “Michelle Thomson maintains that she has always acted within the law”.

The police probe was prompted after property transactions in 2010 and 2011 led to solicitor Christopher Hales being struck off by the Law Society of Scotland.

Thomson’s legal advisor, Aamer Anwar, said the SNP and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon knew nothing of “the detailed nature of Michelle Thomson’s business dealings several years before she became an MP”.

After a hearing in May 2014, the Scottish Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal said Mr Hales failed to provide mortgage companies with key information used to prevent fraud and must have been aware that there was a possibility he was facilitating mortgage fraud, whether or not it occurred.

The Crown Office said it was “made aware” of the SSDT’s findings but agreed with the Law Society not to act until the latter submitted a “fuller report and supporting documentation”.

“Once the investigation is concluded, I look forward to returning to play a full role in party activities”.

Ms Thomson was elected in May after becoming politically active during the Scottish independence campaign, in which she had a prominent role as managing director of pro-independence group Business for Scotland.

“The SNP promised a new politics at Westminster”.

“It is now vital that the SNP come clean about this situation, and who knew what, when”, said a Scottish Labour spokesperson.

“And for somebody who’s been championing the cause of the poor and dispossessed in this country, Michelle Thomson has a few serious questions to answer about those practices”.

The first minister told reporters on Wednesday she had learned of the allegations only when they were published by the Sunday Times this month, implying that Thomson had not disclosed them when she was vetted by the SNP as a general election candidate. “It has taken a matter of weeks for their shine to wear off”, he said.

Alex Cole-Hamilton, Liberal Democrat candidate for Edinburgh Western in the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, said: “Every week that goes on with Michelle Thomson effectively suspended from parliamentary life is a week that constituents of Edinburgh West are disenfranchised in the House of Commons”.

Ms Thomson’s suspension has sparked fears that Edinburgh West constituents are now effectively “disenfranchised” and without proper parliamentary representation.