Former MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh fined £3,000 for professional misconduct

Former SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh has been found guilty of professional misconduct over handling of a trust fund at the solicitors firm where she was a partner prior to becoming an MP in 2015.

Ahmed-Sheikh and her colleague Alan Mickel were both referred to the Scottish Solicitor’s Discipline Tribunal by the Law Society of Scotland over money that was lent to the firm where they were both partners, Hamilton Burns, from a trust fund set up set up by Mickel for his sister.

Although the trust had been set up by Mickel himself, it was legally considered to be a client of the firm.

The tribunal accepted that there had been no intentional dishonesty or personal benefit, but concluded that the pair had shown “disregard for the rules” in failing to keep proper accounts for the trust.

Both were censured and fined £3,000 by the tribunal in Perth, but can continue to practise as solicitors.

They have 21 days in which to appeal the decision.

Ahmed-Sheikh won her Perthshire seat in the 2015 election but lost it in the snap election held by Theresa May two years later.

She said: "It has been accepted that there is no suggestion of financial impropriety or dishonesty, and indeed the Law Society accepts that not only has there been no financial loss to the trust but actually a gain, and in any case funding was guaranteed by security over property."