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Labour checks Alexander donation | Labour checks Alexander donation |
(about 13 hours later) | |
The row over Labour Party funding has drawn in the party's Scottish leader Wendy Alexander. | The row over Labour Party funding has drawn in the party's Scottish leader Wendy Alexander. |
Ms Alexander is checking the source of a donation to her successful campaign to win the leadership in Scotland. | Ms Alexander is checking the source of a donation to her successful campaign to win the leadership in Scotland. |
A spokesman said Ms Alexander's team had acted in good faith but the SNP said Labour "sleaze" had come north. | A spokesman said Ms Alexander's team had acted in good faith but the SNP said Labour "sleaze" had come north. |
It comes after revelations that a property developer gave £650,000 to the UK Labour Party through intermediaries, which may breach electoral law. | |
David Abrahams gave Labour the money over four years under other people's names. | David Abrahams gave Labour the money over four years under other people's names. |
The Electoral Commission has been kept appraised Tom McCabeAlexander campaign manager | |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has described the situation as unlawful and "completely unacceptable". | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has described the situation as unlawful and "completely unacceptable". |
In Scotland, Ms Alexander's team solicited a donation of less than £1,000 from Paul Green who is based in the Channel Islands. | In Scotland, Ms Alexander's team solicited a donation of less than £1,000 from Paul Green who is based in the Channel Islands. |
They were assured that the donation was from a UK-registered company. | They were assured that the donation was from a UK-registered company. |
'Labour supporter' | |
Now, following media enquiries, the admissibility of the donation is being checked and the party is liaising with the Electoral Commission. | |
In a statement, Ms Alexander's campaign manager, Tom McCabe, denied suggestions that a donation had been accepted and then returned. | |
Mr McCabe said: "Paul Green was invited by one of the campaign team to make a donation as a long-standing Labour supporter." | |
Labour's funding sleaze has now moved across the border, right into the heart of the Labour leadership SNP spokesperson | Labour's funding sleaze has now moved across the border, right into the heart of the Labour leadership SNP spokesperson |
A donation was later received and Mr McCabe said: "The registered donation was a UK corporate one. | A donation was later received and Mr McCabe said: "The registered donation was a UK corporate one. |
"The allegation that a donation was accepted and returned is untrue. | "The allegation that a donation was accepted and returned is untrue. |
"We acted in good faith at every stage. The Electoral Commission has been kept appraised." | "We acted in good faith at every stage. The Electoral Commission has been kept appraised." |
The SNP has called on Ms Alexander to make public everything she knew about the affair. | |
A spokesperson said: "The row over Labour's funding sleaze has now moved across the border, right into the heart of the Labour leadership in Scotland. | A spokesperson said: "The row over Labour's funding sleaze has now moved across the border, right into the heart of the Labour leadership in Scotland. |
"It is essential that Wendy Alexander discloses all the relevant facts about this matter." | "It is essential that Wendy Alexander discloses all the relevant facts about this matter." |
Ms Alexander became the leader of the Scottish Labour Party in September after the party failed to hold onto power in May's Scottish Parliament elections. | Ms Alexander became the leader of the Scottish Labour Party in September after the party failed to hold onto power in May's Scottish Parliament elections. |
On Wednesday, Mr Brown's competence as PM came under fire during heated Commons exchanges. | |
The prime minister said he had acted immediately to set up two inquiries into Mr Abrahams's donations and said: "All of us on all sides of this House have an interest in integrity in funding to political parties." |