MSP at centre of property gift row

Apr 10 2008 Report by Caireen Kelly

A LANARKSHIRE MSP was this week at the centre of a row over a bequest worth £145,000.

Michael McMahon was left a house in the will of Sheelagh Bramley, the former Matron of Bellshill Maternity Hospital and a staunch labour party member.

Mr McMahon sold the house.

The Hamilton North and Bellshill MSP said he had complied with Ms Bramley’s final request when he donated some of the proceeds to charity and the remainder to individuals selected by Ms Bramley.

Mr McMahon yesterday (Wednesday) insisted he had not directly benefited from the sale.

However, he could face an investigation by the Scottish Parliament standards commissioner for failing to declare the bequest in his register of interests.

Ms Bramley died in October, 2004, aged 82.

In her will, lodged the following summer, she left her home in Minella Gardens, Bellshill, to Mr McMahon and his wife, Margaret.

The McMahons and their three children had been friendly with her for many years and Mr McMahon gave the eulogy at her funeral.

Mr McMahon told the Advertiser: “As the house was not for my personal benefit I saw no reason why I should have registered it. If I had registered it then I would have been entitled to do whatever I wanted with the money.

“I was purely carrying out the final wishes of my friend, who gave generously to charity throughout her life and latterly, when she was unable to do this, I helped her. I believe I acted with her intentions in mind. When she was alive she made it clear to me that she wanted money to be donated to charity.

“I find it utterly bizarre that people feel I have done something wrong.”

The code of conduct for MSPs states that they should publicly register gifts including property and cash.

List MSP Alex Neil said his understanding of the rules was that any gift, valued at more than one per cent of an MSPs salary, should be registered.

He added: “I would have registered the gift without a doubt as I feel the rules demand it.”

Last year Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander came under fire after it emerged she had not declared cash donated for her leadership campaign.

“I find it utterly bizarre that people feel I have done something wrong.”

Michael McMahon

Alex Neil

Wendy Alexander