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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Joe Sullivan

More than one in four Scottish Labour MPs own second properties

MORE than one in four Scottish Labour MPs own second homes or earn tens of thousands of pounds per year as landlords.

According to research by The Ferret, 10 of the party's 37 MPs have additional properties they live in, rent out, or both.

Five MPs from other parties also own or co-own more than one property, including three from the LibDems and two from the SNP.

Patrick Harvie, Greens MSP and former tenant's rights minister, told the news website that more landlords in power was "the last thing" Scotland needs.

Which Scottish Labour MPs have multiple homes?

Among Scottish Labour's MPs with more than one property is Hamilton and Clyde Valley's new representative Imogen Walker.

Walker, who is married to Morgan McSweeney, described by some as Keir Starmer's closest aide, draws in income from two rental properties in Edinburgh.

Meanwhile, Ian Murray, Scottish Labour's longest-serving MP, has long let out his home in Edinburgh's affluent Bruntsfield neighbourhood.

Ian Murray rents out his home in the affluent Bruntsfield neighbourhood of EdinburghIan Murray rents out his home in the affluent Bruntsfield neighbourhood of Edinburgh

New MP Richard Baker, elected in Glenrothes and Mid Fife, owns four homes, including two rental properties in Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Joani Reid, granddaughter of prominent Glasgow political activist Jimmy Reid, owns a rental property in London.

Her office told The Ferret that the property currently makes a loss, and that its current tenants are an Afghan refugee family.

Trade Minister and former Blair cabinet official Douglas Alexander co-owns two properties, one in his East Lothian constituency and one in Argyll.

Douglas Alexander, the Minister of Trade and a former Blair cabinet minister, co-owns two propertiesDouglas Alexander, the Minister of Trade and a former Blair cabinet minister, co-owns two properties (Image: Newsquest)

Glasgow South West MP Zubir Ahmed owns a property in London, while Western Isles MP Torcuil Chrichton owns a flat in Glasgow.

Alexander, Ahmed and Crichton recorded no rental income from their properties.

Three of Labour's new MPs, Kenneth Stevenson, Kirsteen Sullivan and Alison Taylor, own or co-own property in Spain.

Stevenson co-owns properties in Shotts and Glasgow, while Taylor co-owns a cottage in Arran.

Taylor also reported shareholdings in property management companies, including one valued at more than £70,000.

Scotland's landlords enjoy a 'disproportionately loud' voice

Harvie said to The Ferret: “Scotland is experiencing a housing emergency, and we need to ensure that we use every power we have to support households and families on the frontline of the crisis.

"That means putting the voices and experiences of tenants at the heart of the steps we are taking.

“Scotland’s landlord lobby has enjoyed a disproportionately loud voice in our politics and the last thing we need is for that voice to be amplified in our political parties and in parliament.”

Patrick Harvie said landlords in Scotland have a 'disproportionately loud voice'Patrick Harvie said landlords in Scotland have a 'disproportionately loud voice' (Image: PA)

Aditi Jehangir, chair of the Living Rent tenant's union, said: “Right now, in Scotland and the UK, landlords are spending hundreds of thousands of pounds lobbying politicians to try and get the housing bill in Scotland and the renters reform bill watered down and key details gutted.

"When landlords are MPs and MSPs, their work is made so much easier.”

In total, 85 MPs across the UK own properties which they let out, while 158 members own second homes or other pieces of land.

Members of Parliament are required to register all properties they have partial or full ownership of but do not live in.

They must also must report if they earn more than £10,000 per year from renting property out.

Which other Scottish MPs have second properties?

Among the LibDems, Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael owns a holiday rental on Islay, but reports that the income is paid to his father.

Angus MacDonald, who has represented Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire since 2024, owns commercial property in Stirling which he lets out.

Jamie Stone, the new MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, owns a property in Edinburgh which he lets out.

Chris Law, the SNP's MP for Dundee Central, owns flats in Dundee and Aberdeen, while Stephen Flynn co-owns a second property in Aberdeen.

List of Scottish Labour MPs and their extra properties

  • Imogen Walker, Labour, Hamilton and Clyde Valley – Two additional properties rented out in Edinburgh
  • Ian Murray, Labour, Edinburgh South – One additional property rented out in Edinburgh
  • Richard Baker, Labour, Glenrothes and Mid Fife – Four total properties, two – one in Edinburgh and one in Aberdeen – rented out
  • Joani Reid, Labour, East Kilbride and Strathaven – One additional property rented out in London
  • Douglas Alexander, Labour, East Lothian – Co-owns two properties, one in his constituency and one in Argyll, none rented out
  • Zubir Ahmed, Labour, Glasgow South West – One additional property in London, not rented out
  • Torcuil Crichton, Labour, Na h-Eileanan an Iar – One additional property in Glasgow, not rented out
  • Kenneth Stevenson, Labour, Airdrie and Shotts – Two co-owned properties in Shotts and Glasgow, and one owned or co-owned property in Spain
  • Kirsteen Sullivan, Labour, Bathgate and Linlithgow – One owned or co-owned property in Spain
  • Alison Taylor, Labour, Paisley and Renfrewshire North – One owned or co-owned property in Spain, a co-owned cottage in Arran, and shareholdings in property management companies
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