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Alexander quits as Labour leader Alexander quits as Labour leader
(about 1 hour later)
Wendy Alexander has quit as Scottish Labour leader amid the row over donations to her leadership campaign. The leader of the Labour party in the Scottish Parliament has resigned after breaking rules on declaring donations.
Her resignation comes after the Scottish Parliament's standards committee said she should be banned from parliament for one day. Wendy Alexander faced a one-day ban from Holyrood after failing to register donations to her leadership campaign.
She had failed to declare cash donated for last August's leadership contest on her MSP's register of interests. Ms Alexander said she had acted in "good faith" and on the written advice of the parliamentary authorities.
Ms Alexander said she was resigning with "deep regret" and branded the committee's decision "partisan". She accused the SNP of waging a vexatious campaign against her, without regard for the damage it was doing to the Scottish Parliament.
Political opponents
The Paisley North MSP said the row had become a distraction from other important issues facing Scotland.The Paisley North MSP said the row had become a distraction from other important issues facing Scotland.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a close ally of Ms Alexander, said she had made an outstanding contribution to the party.Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a close ally of Ms Alexander, said she had made an outstanding contribution to the party.
Her political opponents said the resignation was a serious blow for the party. Her political opponents said the resignation was a serious blow for Labour.
Ms Alexander, who will stay on as an MSP, said she had acted in "good faith", after clerks to the standards committee wrongly told her it was unnecessary to declare donations. The row centres on donations to her campaign to replace Jack McConnell as Scottish Labour leader last August.
Mr McConnell resigned after losing the elections to the SNP in May.
Ms Alexander eventually emerged as the only candidate to replace him but raised funds to run a leadership campaign.
She previously said she had been told wrongly by clerks to the standards committee it was unnecessary to declare the donations.
It is clear that vexatious complaints will continue to dominate the headlines as long as I remain Labour's Scottish Parliamentary Leader Wendy Alexander Have your sayReaction: In quotesQ&A: Donation rowIt is clear that vexatious complaints will continue to dominate the headlines as long as I remain Labour's Scottish Parliamentary Leader Wendy Alexander Have your sayReaction: In quotesQ&A: Donation row
She later updated her register with details of the donors, who each gave about £1,000 to her campaign. She later updated her register with details of 10 donors, who each gave about £1,000 to her campaign.
This was after the Scottish parliamentary standards commissioner, Dr Jim Dyer, decided the donations should be treated as gifts.This was after the Scottish parliamentary standards commissioner, Dr Jim Dyer, decided the donations should be treated as gifts.
The Holyrood standards committee decided on Thursday to recommend that she be suspended from parliament for one day.
Ms Alexander called that decision "partisan".
MSPs will be asked to vote on the ban after the summer recess, in September.MSPs will be asked to vote on the ban after the summer recess, in September.
Speaking at Scottish Labour's headquarters in Glasgow, Ms Alexander said: "My pursuers have sought the prize of political victory with little thought to the standing of the parliament.Speaking at Scottish Labour's headquarters in Glasgow, Ms Alexander said: "My pursuers have sought the prize of political victory with little thought to the standing of the parliament.
"Some may feel they have achieved a political victory but wiser heads will surely question 'at what price?'""Some may feel they have achieved a political victory but wiser heads will surely question 'at what price?'"
Ms Alexander added: "It is clear that vexatious complaints will continue to dominate the headlines as long as I remain Labour's Scottish Parliamentary Leader.Ms Alexander added: "It is clear that vexatious complaints will continue to dominate the headlines as long as I remain Labour's Scottish Parliamentary Leader.
"I cannot ask Labour supporters in Scotland for further forbearance.""I cannot ask Labour supporters in Scotland for further forbearance."
Scottish Labour's deputy leader Cathy Jamieson has taken charge ahead of a leadership contest.Scottish Labour's deputy leader Cathy Jamieson has taken charge ahead of a leadership contest.
The prime minister said: "I want to thank Wendy Alexander, not just for her work in rebuilding the Scottish Labour Party since the last elections but for her commitment to devolution and her part in establishing the Scottish Parliament.The prime minister said: "I want to thank Wendy Alexander, not just for her work in rebuilding the Scottish Labour Party since the last elections but for her commitment to devolution and her part in establishing the Scottish Parliament.
"Her dedication to social justice can never be doubted and her contribution - which has been outstanding over the years - will be greatly missed.""Her dedication to social justice can never be doubted and her contribution - which has been outstanding over the years - will be greatly missed."
Ms Jamieson, left, will take over the leadership in the meantimeMs Jamieson, left, will take over the leadership in the meantime
Scottish deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon acknowledged it was a difficult decision for Ms Alexander.Scottish deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon acknowledged it was a difficult decision for Ms Alexander.
The Scottish National Party deputy leader said: "While Wendy Alexander has been author of own misfortune, there can be no doubt that the information on her illegal campaign donation could only have come from within the inner circles of the Labour Party.The Scottish National Party deputy leader said: "While Wendy Alexander has been author of own misfortune, there can be no doubt that the information on her illegal campaign donation could only have come from within the inner circles of the Labour Party.
"Decay from within is characteristic of the decline of the New Labour project, and Wendy Alexander's resignation is a symptom of this wider malaise.""Decay from within is characteristic of the decline of the New Labour project, and Wendy Alexander's resignation is a symptom of this wider malaise."
Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said: "This resignation is a further body blow for Gordon Brown and Labour, as they lurch from one crisis to another.Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said: "This resignation is a further body blow for Gordon Brown and Labour, as they lurch from one crisis to another.
"Only the Scottish Conservatives offer a credible opposition to the SNP in Scotland.""Only the Scottish Conservatives offer a credible opposition to the SNP in Scotland."
Scottish Lib Dem leader Nicol Stephen said: "It is sad that Wendy Alexander has been forced to resign in these damaging circumstances.
"She has always been respected for her intellect and her commitment to a stronger Scottish Parliament.
"But this donations issue has dogged her leadership from the very start."
The standards committee ruling was the latest development in the saga of donations to Ms Alexander's leadership campaign.The standards committee ruling was the latest development in the saga of donations to Ms Alexander's leadership campaign.
In a separate development, she earlier expressed "deep regret" that her team accepted an illegal £950 donation from Jersey-based businessman Paul Green.In a separate development, she earlier expressed "deep regret" that her team accepted an illegal £950 donation from Jersey-based businessman Paul Green.