DONALD TRUMP was accused of “rank hypocrisy” today after being given planning permission to build a second golf course in Scotland while sacking workers at the first. 

The United States president’s Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire is sacking 80 workers under cover of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Trump’s Turnberry managers are also attacking sick pay, pay enhancements and staff benefits.

But plans for a second resort are pressing ahead in Aberdeenshire with the investment of millions of pounds.

The Turnberry workers are members of rail union RMT through the operation of a light railway serving coastal communities in Ayrshire, now no longer running.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash accused the Turnberry managers of “a con” and said: “It is rank hypocrisy of the highest order for the Trump operation to blame the pandemic and a cash crisis for the axing of dozens of ‎staff at Turnberry while at the same time they were planning all along to spend millions on a new course.

“There is no shortage of money, and all they ever wanted was to use the pandemic as a cloak for slashing the head count and working conditions and exploiting a global crisis to rule by fear.

“RMT will continue to fight the cuts and stand up for the rights of the Trump workforce in Scotland.” 

The union said Turnberry bosses were implementing the sackings after “hoovering up” taxpayer-funded furlough grants during the coronavirus crisis.

Sarah Malone, executive vice-president of Trump International Scotland, said: “Golf, more so now than ever, is the sport of choice for many people, including families, and we are delighted to have the support of Aberdeenshire Council to move forward with our second golf course.”