I felt pressure to sell my home to MP’s firm
A HUSBAND and wife say they felt pressured to sell their home to MP Michelle Thomson after she and her business partner ‘pestered’ them with calls.
Douglas and Jacqueline Wright sold their house in Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire, to Mrs Thomson and Frank Gilbride in 2011.
They were forced to sell as they could no longer afford their mortgage payments. They received around £20,000 and the remainder of the mortgage – about £30,000 – was also paid off in the deal.
Mr Wright said they originally rejected an offer of £17,000 from Mrs Thomson. He claims they were then bombarded with calls from her and Mr Gilbride.
Documents have revealed that only months after buying the Wrights’ ex- council house, the Edinburgh West MP sold the property for £75,000.
It is one of 13 deals being investigated after the solicitor involved, Christopher Hales, was struck off for breaching rules surrounding mortgage fraud.
Last night, Mr and Mrs Wright, who are
‘Every day brings embarrassment’
both retired, told of their disgust and anger at learning of the investigation and Mrs Thomson’s £1.7million empire.
Mrs Wright, 61, said she had raised her two children in their former home. But, desperate to sell, called Mrs Thomson’s company, which they had seen advertised in a newspaper.
Mr Wright, 69, said: ‘ Initially they offered us £17,000, but we said no. Then they kept calling us and pestering us until we agreed to sell to them. They were getting in touch every day.
‘We had no idea what the value of our home was and just wanted a quick sale, so when they went up we said yes. But we just feel like she used us to make a profit. She knew what she was doing, and she knew we were desperate. It’s shocking, she is meant to represent equality.’
The couple – who now live in Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow – said that, despite voting SNP in the past, they would not do so again. They plan to consult a solicitor about the investigation.
Mrs Thomson last week quit the party whip at Westminster, triggering her suspension from the SNP.
Mrs Wright said: ‘ She should resign. Why should she stay an MP with her big salary and privileges when she treats people like this?’
The latest controversy comes as politicians raised further questions over SNP vetting of candidates.
Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said: ‘ All parties have people that come to them and say they want to stand and you do that vet- ting as best you can. People need to know… what kind of candidate vetting procedures went on in the SNP?’
Scottish Labour public services spokesman Jackie Baillie said: ‘Every day brings fresh embarrassment for the SNP over the selection of Michelle Thomson as a parliamentary candidate.’
An SNP spokesman said: ‘ This issue is under investigation by the relevant authorities, so Labour and the Tories should allow that to come to a conclusion and for all the facts to be examined instead of indulging in mud- slinging and a rush to judgment.’
Mrs Thomson’s solicitor Aamer Anwar said he had advised her not to comment on the investigation.
The details came as it was claimed Mrs Thomson was at the centre of a bust-up in the main pro-business group set up to fight for independence.
Emails published by the Sunday Herald allege Mrs Thomson, who helped form Business for Scotland before she became an MP, had her paid consultancy services brutally terminated before the referendum.
But she was allowed to use the title managing director and do unpaid media work to avoid negative publicity, it was claimed.
BfS had a high-profile role during the referendum campaign, and was fronted by Mrs Thomson and chief executive Gordon MacIntyreKemp, while the founder of the Balhousie Care Group, Tony Banks, sat on the board. In March, one email from Mr Banks reportedly included a quote from an anonymous board member, which stated: ‘I thought we were on the same side – if this were a company I would want out – too much fighting.’
A spokesman for Mrs Thomson said: ‘There were areas of disagreement but any attempt to stir up division now can only be viewed as mischief-making.’