> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://housing-base.journalismarena.eu/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://housing-base.journalismarena.eu/short-term-rentals/media-reports/2019/airbnb-lobbying-revealed-as-snp-and-tories-water-down-regulation-the-ferret-24-may-2019.md).

# Airbnb lobbying revealed as SNP and Tories water down regulation (The Ferret, 24 May 2019)

* **Airbnb lobbying revealed as SNP and Tories water down regulation**
* By Joe Lo. Published in the Ferret on 24 May 2019
* <https://theferret.scot/airbnb-lobbying-snp-tories-regulation/>
* **Summary**:
  * Green MSP [Andy Wightman](https://www.parliament.scot/msps/currentmsps/andy-wightman-msp.aspx) aimed to combat some of \[Airbnb's criticised] effects through an amendment to the planning bill going through parliament. This would require planning permission for anyone turning a home into a commercial let.
  * But Tory tourism spokesperson, [Rachael Hamilton MSP](https://www.parliament.scot/msps/currentmsps/rachael-hamilton-msp.aspx), has said she plans to table a rival amendment which would mean people would only need planning permission to change a home to a commercial let in certain areas rather than the whole of Scotland.
  * Hamilton said her amendment would give councils control over how they deal with the issue. “Somewhere like Edinburgh can tackle problems head-on where they see fit,” she said, “while more rural areas where there isn’t that pressure can continue going about their business.” (...)
  * Now **new data from the** [**Scottish Parliament’s lobbying register**](https://www.lobbying.scot/) **shows that Airbnb’s policy officer, Marie Lorimer, met twice with Hamilton and Conservative housing spokesperson,** [**Graham Simpson MSP**](https://www.parliament.scot/msps/currentmsps/graham-simpson-msp.aspx)**, to discuss the amendment** – once in [December 2018](https://www.lobbying.scot/SPS/InformationReturn/SearchInformationReturnDetail/10192) and once in [February 2019](https://www.lobbying.scot/SPS/InformationReturn/SearchInformationReturnDetail/10194). Lorimer also discussed the planning bill with Simpson in [August 2018](https://www.lobbying.scot/SPS/InformationReturn/SearchInformationReturnDetail/5951).
  * **In November 2018, Lorimer also** [**met with**](https://www.lobbying.scot/SPS/InformationReturn/SearchInformationReturnDetail/10190) **Scottish business minister,** [**Jamie Hepburn MSP**](https://www.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/jamie-hepburn/)**, to discuss “regulation of the collaborative economy – including tourism and short-term rentals”**.
  * **Airbnb also employs a specialist Edinburgh-based agency called** [**Halogen Communications**](https://www.halogencom.com/) **to lobby on their behalf**. According to one of their clients listed on their website, Halogen’s “contacts are excellent”.
* **Keywords**: Edinburgh, Scotland, Scottish Parliament, MSPs, United Kingdom, UK, lobbying, Airbnb, Halogen Communications, tourism, tourist apartments, Andy Wightman, Rachael Hamilton, Marie Lorimer, Graham Simpson


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://housing-base.journalismarena.eu/short-term-rentals/media-reports/2019/airbnb-lobbying-revealed-as-snp-and-tories-water-down-regulation-the-ferret-24-may-2019.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.