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| SNP denies Alexander bias claims | SNP denies Alexander bias claims |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Scottish National Party is denying claims of bias against the Scottish Parliament standards committee after Labour leader Wendy Alexander resigned. | The Scottish National Party is denying claims of bias against the Scottish Parliament standards committee after Labour leader Wendy Alexander resigned. |
| Ms Alexander says the committee acted in "partisan" fashion when it recommended she be suspended in a row about political donations. | Ms Alexander says the committee acted in "partisan" fashion when it recommended she be suspended in a row about political donations. |
| But the SNP says it was a decision simply based on an independent report. | But the SNP says it was a decision simply based on an independent report. |
| Party leader Alex Salmond is expected to respond to Ms Alexander's claims later on Sunday. | |
| Labour 'disintegrating' | Labour 'disintegrating' |
| The Deputy First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, told the BBC the decision had followed an independent process. | The Deputy First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, told the BBC the decision had followed an independent process. |
| She said: "It's not partisan, it's not party political, it's simply a decision taken based on that independent report. | She said: "It's not partisan, it's not party political, it's simply a decision taken based on that independent report. |
| "But clearly this event does signal the deep disintegration now happening to Labour north and south of the border. The key point is that they are disintegrating from within." | "But clearly this event does signal the deep disintegration now happening to Labour north and south of the border. The key point is that they are disintegrating from within." |
| Meanwhile, moves to choose a successor to Ms Alexander as Scottish Labour leader will begin this week, the party has said. | Meanwhile, moves to choose a successor to Ms Alexander as Scottish Labour leader will begin this week, the party has said. |
| She resigned on Saturday, after MSPs recommended she was given a one-day ban from the Scottish Parliament for breaking donation rules. | She resigned on Saturday, after MSPs recommended she was given a one-day ban from the Scottish Parliament for breaking donation rules. |
| Wendy Alexander talks of 'distractions' leading to her resignation | Wendy Alexander talks of 'distractions' leading to her resignation |
| Her departure means the party faces its second successive leadership campaign over the summer Parliamentary recess. | Her departure means the party faces its second successive leadership campaign over the summer Parliamentary recess. |
| Cathy Jamieson, the party's deputy leader for the last eight years, will be acting leader during the recess. | Cathy Jamieson, the party's deputy leader for the last eight years, will be acting leader during the recess. |
| The controversy which led to Ms Alexander's resignation centred on donations to her campaign to replace Jack McConnell as Scottish Labour leader last August. | The controversy which led to Ms Alexander's resignation centred on donations to her campaign to replace Jack McConnell as Scottish Labour leader last August. |
| The Paisley North MSP had said she had been told wrongly by Holyrood officials that it was unnecessary to declare donations to | The Paisley North MSP had said she had been told wrongly by Holyrood officials that it was unnecessary to declare donations to |
| She later updated it with details of 10 donors, who each gave about £1,000 to her campaign. | She later updated it 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. |
| 'Vexatious campaign' | 'Vexatious campaign' |
| The Holyrood standards committee decided on Thursday to recommend that she be suspended from parliament for one day. | The Holyrood standards committee decided on Thursday to recommend that she be suspended from parliament for one day. |
| Ms Alexander said she was certain MSPs would overturn the decision when they returned after the summer recess. | Ms Alexander said she was certain MSPs would overturn the decision when they returned after the summer recess. |
| However, she resigned just two days later "with deep regret" and accused the SNP of waging a "vexatious" campaign against her. | However, she resigned just two days later "with deep regret" and accused the SNP of waging a "vexatious" campaign against her. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown paid tribute to Ms Alexander, saying she would be "greatly missed." | Prime Minister Gordon Brown paid tribute to Ms Alexander, saying she would be "greatly missed." |
| But BBC correspondents say he now faces a leadership contest in Scotland as well as a potentially tight by-election fight in the seat of Glasgow East. | But BBC correspondents say he now faces a leadership contest in Scotland as well as a potentially tight by-election fight in the seat of Glasgow East. |
| Sitting Labour MP David Marshall is expected to resign this week because of ill health. | Sitting Labour MP David Marshall is expected to resign this week because of ill health. |