# 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