Read Douglas Fraser's blog verdict here

Nicol Stephen's call for a judicial inquiry into the Scottish Government's handling of Donald Trump's application to build a £1bn golf resort was scuppered yesterday.

The Scottish Liberal Democrat leader's call for a 28-day independent inquiry into the way the planning application had been dealt with headed by a judge failed to win the backing of the Tories.

Instead, Holyrood's local government committee is likely to carry out an inquiry, at the request of the Conservatives. First Minister Alex Salmond could be summoned to give evidence .

One of Mr Trump's closest advisers said he was "appalled" at the way Mr Stephen has conducted himself since the government's decision to take control of the planning application.

The Trump organisation dismissed Mr Stephen's comments as "malicious, inaccurate and potentially destructive".

George Sorial, Mr Trump's development director, yesterday said: "I am appalled that this has become another political row and it is Nicol Stephen's conduct which should be called into question, not anybody else's. If everything we do is met with this political opposition, it will put the project in jeopardy."

Mr Trump's plans for two golf courses, houses and a hotel on the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire were rejected by the local council's infrastructure committee on November 29.

John Swinney, the Finance Secretary, called in the application on December 4, giving ministers the final say on it.

It later emerged that Mr Salmond, whose Gordon constituency takes in the Menie Estate, had met Mr Sorial and another Trump representative the day before. The Trump representatives also met Jim McKinnon, the government's chief planner, on the day it was announced the plans were being called in.

Mr Salmond has insisted that he was entitled to meet the Trump representatives in his role as local MSP and that he had no idea of Mr Swinney's plans at the time.

In a statement, the Trump Organisation also denied any wrongdoing. It said: "The Trump Organisation is dismayed at the political attacks on both Alex Salmond and Jim McKinnon, who acted with absolute probity and discretion.

"These attacks are malicious, inaccurate and potentially destructive and they threaten to once again endanger a £1bn project which has the overwhelming backing of the north-east of Scotland."

Mr Stephen said: "I support the project, with the relevant safeguards. However, inappropriate behaviour by ministers not only damages the planning system, it also undermines the application and creates real risk of delay, challenge or prejudice."