THE SECRET LANDLORD
SNP man Gibson is probed by ethics watchdog
A leading MSP has been accused of breaking strict parliamentary rules by failing to say he was a landlord before leading a Holyrood hearing into rented properties.
A complaint against SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson is being looked at by watchdog Commissioner for Ethical Standa rd s in Publ ic Life in Scotland after concerns were raised by constituent Ian Gemmell.
Retired bus driver Ian, from Kilbirnie, Ayrshi re, says Gibson failed to mention his own status as a landlord before leading the hear ing about new controls on private letting.
Ian also says Gibson should have mentioned that his wife, Westminster MP Patricia Gibson, also rents out private property.
The meeting of the Holyrood Finance Committee was held last November to discuss the Private Housing (Tenancies) Scotland Bill – made law this year – which has granted new rights to tenants.
The code says MSPs must declare any financial or vested interest which might influence their actions, speeches or votes in parliament. Gibson, 53, owns a £250,000 flat in the Templeton on the Green development in Glasgow which he rents out for between £5000 and £10,000 a year.
Patr icia Gibson, 48, the Westminster MP for North Ayrshire and Arran, owns a £ 350,000 f lat in the exclusive Western Harbour development in Leith, Edinburgh which earns her around £10,000 a year.
Ian believes Kenneth Gibson is in breach of the Scott ish Parliament’s Code of Conduct governing declaration of interests.
It says: “Where a member has a declarable interest in any matter, the member is required to make an oral statement declaring the nature of the registrable financial interest before taking part in Parl iamentary proceedings relating to that matter.’ Ian, a former trade union representative for the Arriva bus company, said: “The MSPs had a right to know about his landlord status and thus his financial interest.”
Gibson – who represents Cunninghame North – denied any breach of the code.
He said: “The individual in question, who I have never had any personal written or email contact with, has raised such matters before.
“I have repl i ed to the Commissioner for Ethical Standards answering each and every point. While he is looking into it, it would not really be appropriate to comment.”
The Commissioner for Ethical Standards said a complaint had been received but they could not comment further.