A COMPLAINT by billionaire businessman Donald Trump against Green Party co-leader Patrick Harvie has been dismissed by the Public Standards Commissioner.
The American tycoon was offended by a comment from Mr Harvie in reaction to his claim – made at a meeting of Holyrood's Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee – that he was "the evidence" against wind power.
Mr Harvie later posted an image on the social networking site Twitter using a still from the Monty Python film The Life of Brian. This prompted a complaint to the standards commissioner by Mr Trump and his executive vice president and counsel, George Sorial, who said it was "offensive" and "blasphemous".
The Public Standards Commissioner said the complaint was "irrelevant and inadmissible".
Mr Harvie said yesterday: "Trump seems to make a living from insulting behaviour. He seems to have an ego of messianic proportions. With this ruling from the commissioner we can all see that, as Brian's mum might have said, Trump is not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy.
"Scotland is on an important journey to a low carbon future. We must not be put off by a millionaire with a megaphone."
During his evidence to the Energy Committee in April, Mr Trump claimed the Scottish Government's expansion of wind farms would "destroy" tourism. When questioned where the evidence was to support his assertion he replied: "I am the evidence.
"I am an expert in tourism, I am considered a world-class expert in tourism, so when you say where is the evidence, I am the evidence."
Mr Sorial said yesterday: "Despite the ruling by the Public Standards Commission, Patrick Harvie's conduct was disgusting, immoral and an embarrassment for the entire Scottish Government.
"He is a terrible representative for Scotland with a ridiculous and myopic political agenda that's destined to fail."
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