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Alex Salmond was today challenged over his government's handling of plans by Donald Trump to build a golf course in Scotland.

Opposition parties used First Minister's Questions to claim there was a "smell of sleaze" over the relationship between developer and government.

Councillors in Aberdeenshire had rejected the billionaire's plans to build a development, including golf courses and housing, in the area.

But in an unusual move the Scottish Government last week called in the application, giving finance secretary John Swinney the final say on the matter.

Today Lib Dem leader Nicol Stephen claimed Trump representatives were present during a phone call between the chief planner and the council on the very day that the application was called in.

Mr Stephen demanded an independent inquiry be set up to examine the situation.

He raised the issue with Mr Salmond at First Minister's Questions in the Scottish Parliament, asking: "When Aberdeenshire Council were telephoned by the chief planner about the Trump proposals last Tuesday, the very day the application was called in, were there any Trump representatives in the chief planner's room at the time?"

Mr Salmond told the Liberal Democrat: "I an debarred from any decision-making in the planning process.

"Why on earth would I therefore know the answer to that question. I was not in the room or with the chief planner at the time."

But Mr Stephen said: "Aberdeenshire Council will confirm that they had to ask for the Trump representatives to leave the chief planner's room during a phone call last Tuesday.

"This is a serious situation for the First Minister and his government.

"Every step of the way there is contradiction, concealment and cleverness from his government on this issue. It smells of sleaze."

Mr Stephen asked the First Minister: "Will he now have an independent inquiry to investigate what happened in those 48 hours last Monday and Tuesday, to find out why the developers were present with the chief planner on the very day that their application was called in, to examine what pressure the chief planner was put under by ministers to take these potentially prejudicial actions that now jeopardise this project."

The row came after it emerged that the councillor who used his casting vote to reject Donald Trump's £1bn golf resort was yesterday sacked by his colleagues.

Martin Ford, as chairman of Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure committee, made the decision to turn down the planning application two weeks ago, sparking an unprecedented furore amid fears that the development might be lost to the area.

Days later the Scottish Government took the decision out of the council's hands and yesterday the council, which now has a role simply as a consultant, overwhelmingly gave its support to Mr Trump's proposals.

It also moved swiftly to change its planning procedures to ensure no repeat of the debacle by altering standing orders to allow applications of regional or national importance to be decided by the whole council, which was not previously possible.

The move to oust Mr Ford was made by Independent councillor John Cox , who said it was vital for the chairman to take a lead role in development of the structure plan, in the local economic forum, in transport plans and in developing tourism.

He said the events of the past two weeks had "ruined many years of hard work and made the council look incompetent".

He added: "Councillor Ford has articulated his ecological views over the last week. However, the chair of infrastructure services committee has a responsibility to consider all the services and all of the officers' recommendations.

"By considering his position as chair, Councillor Ford will be free to present his strongly held views without constraining the work of the infrastructure services committee."

Seconding the motion, SNP councillor Joanna Strathdee said she had the utmost respect for Mr Ford but the real question was whether he could positively represent the policies of the council in all the organisations with which they were in partnership for the future economic development of the area.

Proposing a directly opposite amendment, Councillor Debra Storr, who was the victim of an alleged assault at her home after speaking against the Trump development, said: "I never thought I would see the day when a colleague would propose the removal of a chair of a committee merely for doing his job in the way we are all expected to do.

"We are all agreed that what happened on the 29th the date of the meeting was entirely proper. What we have been faced with is an awful lot of external pressures on us which have caused an awful lot of furore and I myself have been a victim, in the most acute way, of some of that."

She said it was a disgrace that, having behaved with integrity and dignity, Mr Ford was facing removal.

Mr Ford, whose allowances will now fall by £11,589 a year to £15,452, said: "It was happenstance and very unfortunate that I ended up with the casting vote that day but I acted properly in accordance with normal constitutional practice."

He warned that his removal would send out the message that if there was a media campaign or an applicant who didn't like a result exerted enough pressure on the council, the chairman of the planning committee would be sacked.

"That raises serious fundamental problems about the credibility and integrity of the planning system across Scotland and whether there are some applicants and applications we are unable to refuse.

"This does threaten our democracy."

However, 26 councillors voted for his removal with 10 against and 29 no votes.

Last night Donald Trump told The Herald: "I am very honoured by the decision and it reflects what has taken place in terms of popularity. It is great democracy because the people wanted this development to happen.

"It is up now to the ministers but the ministers have been given a virtually unanimous vote of confidence.

"The previous decision was very disappointing and very surprising, especially since it was so popular. What has happened since then is probably unprecedented and I am more than happy. Hopefully there will be no more obstacles. It is going to be a great development and great for the area."

He said he was pleased that the council had made a decision to change the process to avoid a similar situation.

The Scottish Government will rule on the application and decide whether a public inquiry is necessary.

Following the meeting, 14 Scottish environmental organisations, all members of Scottish Environment Link, sent a joint letter to John Swinney MSP raising concerns about the integrity of planning process provoked by the Trump development. They include the Scottish Wildlife Trust, RSPB Scotland, Ramblers' Association Scotland, WWF Scotland and the John Muir Trust.