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Alexander will not be prosecuted Alexander will not be prosecuted
(31 minutes later)
Scotland's Labour leader Wendy Alexander will not be prosecuted over failing to register donations, the Crown Office has confirmed. Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander will not be prosecuted over failing to register donations, the Crown Office has confirmed.
The Holyrood watchdog referred her to the procurator fiscal for not recording gifts to her leadership campaign in the MSPs' register of interests.The Holyrood watchdog referred her to the procurator fiscal for not recording gifts to her leadership campaign in the MSPs' register of interests.
A Crown Office spokesperson said a prosecution "would not be appropriate". Prosecutors recommended the issue be dealt with by the Scottish Parliament's standards committee.
The case will now be handed back to the parliamentary watchdog.
Ms Alexander has said parliament officials wrongly told her it was unnecessary to declare the donations.Ms Alexander has said parliament officials wrongly told her it was unnecessary to declare the donations.
The MSP has since updated her register with details of 10 donors who each gave about £1,000 to her leadership campaign. 'Sought advice'
In a statement on Thursday, the Crown Office said: "After very full and careful consideration of the report from the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, Crown Counsel has concluded that a prosecution would not be appropriate in the full circumstances of this case." The Paisley North MSP has since updated her register with details of 10 donors who each gave about £1,000 to her leadership campaign.
Ms Alexander had initially been told she did not need to register the donations after seeking advice from the clerk to the standards committee.
Holyrood's standards commissioner Jim Dyer - who operates independently from the committee - later informed the party this was "incorrect", prompting Ms Alexander to make a voluntary registration, detailing the donations.
Dr Dyer said he was required to refer to prosecutors if any alleged rule breach could be an offence.
In a statement, the Crown Office said: "After very full and careful consideration of the report from the Scottish parliamentary standards commissioner, crown counsel has concluded that a prosecution would not be appropriate in the full circumstances of this case."
Prosecutors said, in reaching their decision, there was a degree of uncertainty surrounding the interpretation of the rules, that Ms Alexander had sought advice and that a voluntary disclosure was made to the Electoral Commission.