Ministers refuse to confirm whether King requested changes to rent freeze bill

The Scottish government has rejected calls to confirm whether the King asked for changes to the rent freeze bill that could affect tenancies on his Highland estate.

MSPs wanted to change the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Scotland Bill that will freeze rents for private tenants in Scotland and ban most evictions for six months, reports The Guardian. Their amendment, which failed by 22 votes to 93, called on ministers to disclose whether the King used ‘crown consent’ and to discover the result of any alleged discussions with his lawyers.

Private tenants

King Charles has private tenants on his estate at Balmoral although the Queen did not object to similar Scottish government measures introduced to freeze rents during the Covid crisis in 2020.

The Guardian revealed last year that ministers in Edinburgh allowed the Queen to vet at least 67 bills that affected her personal property and public powers under the rule, which stipulates that the monarch’s consent is needed before they can be passed by the Scottish parliament.

Alex Cole-Hamilton (pictured), the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, told MSPs the public interest case for greater transparency about the King’s role was clear.

As this was the first piece of Scottish legislation he had been asked to consent to, it was an ideal opportunity for the monarch and ministers to become more open, Cole-Hamilton added.

Buckingham Palace officials deny this mechanism is used to lobby for changes to protect the royal family’s interests. A Scottish government memo revealed, however, that it was “almost certain” draft laws had been secretly changed to secure the late Queen’s approval.