Thread by @MartynMcL

EXCL: @realDonaldTrump's lossmaking Scottish resort is paying a UK Govt public body just £100 a month to lease buildings at Turnberry's world-famous lighthouse, while charging guests £1,400 a night to stay in the landmark. My @TheScotsman investigation: scotsman.com/news/politics/…

Some background to this Trump story: I had no idea until a few months ago @realDonaldTrump didn't own Turnberry lighthouse. I only found out during a visit to the course to meet a contact.

Given the Stevenson-designed 19th C lighthouse tower features on Trump Turnberry’s corporate logo, and Trump’s branded golf clothing ranges, I suspect I wasn’t alone. It’s the symbol of his hotel and golf resort, the image it projects to the world.

Turns out, the majority of the lighthouse complex belongs to @NLB_UK, an executive non-departmental public body. Or, as civil servants call it, an NDPB. It’s one of 200+ in the UK, The jargon’s confusing, but make no mistake, it’s a public body. Its assets are public assets.

It's fair to say @NLB_UK has a modest public profile. It's responsible for navigational aids, and is funded by ship owners who come into UK ports. It's HQ is in Edinburgh, but it's responsible to the UK Dept for Transport.

Given Turnberry lighthouse is one of the most famous landmarks in world golf, it’s no surprise @realDonaldTrump had plans for it. In fact, @EricTrump was in talks with @NLB_UK’s chief exec @MikeBul1786 in Aug ‘14, mere months after his father bought Turnberry.

.@realDonaldTrump's buyout of the resort included an accommodation block, sold by the NLB to Turnberry’s then Japanese owners, back in ‘92, but the tower, a utility and services building, and a bothy were not part of the deal. All belonged - and belong - to @NLB_UK

Eventually, @EricTrump struck a deal with @NLB_UK, and work began to redesign the complex. The centrepiece is what Trump Turnberry describes as “one of the world’s finest suites.” with typical Trump flourishes (think mahogany, marble, gold, not MDF and potpourri)

When it opened as the 'presidential suite' it cost up to £7,000 a night to stay in the lighthouse as part of a 'King of Scots Experience'. That’s since fallen considerably, but a night’s stay will still set you back £1,400. And here’s where it gets interesting.

The lease agreed between @EricTrump and @NLB_UK means Turnberry’s parent firm, SLC Turnberry Limited, pays just £100 a month to rent the NLB’s buildings at the lighthouse site.

I’m not very good at maths, but at the risk of overly simplifying matters, that means @realDonaldTrump can recoup an entire year's worth of rental payments to the NLB with a single guest staying a single night at the exclusive suite.

Here's an excerpt from the lease agreement between Trump's company and the UK Govt public body, signed by @EricTrump:

And here's an example of an annual invoice sent to Trump’s SLC Turnberry Limited firm by @NLB_UK:

One of the leased buildings - a public asset, remember - now forms part of Trump’s ‘halfway house’ facility at the lighthouse, where parched or peckish golfers can fuel up at the mid-point of their round.

Here's the menu for the Halfway House at Trump's resort. It includes “luxury fish and chips” for £30. Again, I'm rubbish at maths, but that means if Trump sells three fish suppers, he's covered the monthly rent (I never thought I'd write *that* sentence).

I should add at this point: THIRTY POUNDS FOR FISH AND CHIPS. Say it out loud. Go on. THIRTY POUNDS FOR FISH AND CHIPS

I told @patrickharvie about the deal. He said: “The Trump Organisation has shown itself to be a self-interested, arrogant and bullying neighbour-from-hell. The last thing we should be using public assets for is helping them to line their own pockets by catering to the ultrarich"

@NLB_UK told me its deal with @realDonaldTrump's firm is value for money, and points out it's already made savings, given Trump Turnberry is now responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the buildings. It says painting the lighthouse alone costs £120,000.

.@NLB_UK added that the UK Government Valuation Office Agency advised charging Trump's company a “ballpark” annual rent cost of £600 to £1,500. @NLB_UK, having consulted solicitors, decided £1.200 was a “reasonable” sum given Turnberry’s maintenance commitments.

But at a time when Qs are being asked about the cost to the public purse of the US president's state visit to the UK next week, is the deal value for money for the UK Govt, and us, the taxpayers? It's a matter of opinion.

Oh, and I approached Trump Turnberry for comment. They didn't get back to me. If you have a potential story about Trump's dealings in the UK, my DMs are open. /ends