Holyrood Tory candidate in holiday home row

Apr 14 2011 by John Rowbotham, Hamilton Advertiser

LANARKSHIRE’S best-known Tory was this week at the centre of an embarrassing holiday home row.

Holyrood hopeful Margaret Mitchell was under fire after trumpeting the delights of her overseas property in the middle of the election campaign.

Margaret Mitchell’s two-bedroom apartment on the tiny paradise island of La Gomera was last week featured across two pages in a national newspaper’s property section.

Mrs Mitchell lives in Bothwell and is the Conservative candidate for the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse in the forthcoming Holyrood election.

In the article, the former Tory justice spokeswoman tells how she and her husband – South Lanarkshire councillor Henry Mitchell, a retired accountant – paid 300,000 euros (about £265,000) for the apartment.

It has views over a golf course on the Atlantic island, which is a 30-mile ferry ride from Tenerife.

Mrs Mitchell (58) has been a regional MSP for eight years and is number one of the Tories’ Central Scotland list.

The article explains that because of the election, Mrs Mitchell is “busy” in Scotland. Usually, however, the couple try to visit La Gomera in the “main holidays”.

She told the paper: “So it’s Christmas and New Year, Easter and summer. We might also squeeze a few days in the February and autumn break and Henry can go more frequently than me because he is retired.”

Mrs Mitchell explains that the island is “beautiful, safe and stable” with good roads and proper healthcare.

And Playa de Santiago, situated in the dry south of the island, has 3000 hours of sunshine a year, twice that of Britain.

The golf course on the island – Columbus’ last port of call before he sailed off to discover America -– is said to be spectacular and the walking “fantastic”.

The article also points out: “A mobile phone and Wi-Fi at the development’s country club means Margaret is contactable and can keep up to date with her e-mails.”

SNP candidate Dick Lyle, the North Lanarkshire councillor who is representing the party in Uddingston and Bellshill and is fifth on the Nats’ Central Scotland slate, said: “When Mrs Mitchell needs to recharge her batteries she goes to La Gomera. Lucky her, the rest of us have to stay here and pay the price of her party’s economic policies. I’ve had one holiday in three years.”

Kirsten Robb, who is number one on the Scottish Green Party list in Central Scotland, said she had visited La Gomera some years ago – but was camping.

“It is up to Margaret what she does with her money,” added Ms Robb.

“However, in terms of Tory policy, I would like to see the country become more equal with the gap between rich and poor being reduced.

“I would also like to see people reducing their carbon footprint.

“I wouldn’t deny people their holidays but they should reduce the amount they fly and explore what is on their doorstep.”

Mrs Mitchell said the article arose after they agreed endorse the development in which the apartment is situated.

“We have been going to La Gomera for 15 years and are very fond of the place,” she added.

“I know people will put a slant on the article but the firm (from whom the apartment was bought) have been very fair.

“We bought off-plan in 2007 and there were a lot of problems.

“We saw how the developers did things and when they asked if we would give our views, we were delighted to do so.

“It’s for no return whatsoever – just a lot of flak since the article was printed.”

She added: “I work hard for my constituents.

“My view is that people who work hard should be able to spend their money as they see fit. As a Conservative, that’s what I am about. Are people saying that you should not get a holiday if you are a politician. I have not had a holiday since December.”