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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Labour donation 'clearly illegal' | Labour donation 'clearly illegal' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Wendy Alexander's campaign for the Scottish Labour leadership broke the law by accepting money from a Jersey-based businessman. | Wendy Alexander's campaign for the Scottish Labour leadership broke the law by accepting money from a Jersey-based businessman. |
| Her campaign manager, Tom McCabe, accepted there was a clear breach of donation rules when a cheque for £950 was accepted from developer Paul Green. | Her campaign manager, Tom McCabe, accepted there was a clear breach of donation rules when a cheque for £950 was accepted from developer Paul Green. |
| The MSP who sought the donation, Charlie Gordon, has quit as Labour's transport spokesman at Holyrood. | The MSP who sought the donation, Charlie Gordon, has quit as Labour's transport spokesman at Holyrood. |
| The party has reported the matter to the Electoral Commission. | The party has reported the matter to the Electoral Commission. |
| During a press conference, Mr McCabe said the incident had cast a shadow over Ms Alexander's leadership campaign and that arrangements were being made to return the money. | During a press conference, Mr McCabe said the incident had cast a shadow over Ms Alexander's leadership campaign and that arrangements were being made to return the money. |
| I acted in good faith and I deeply regret the fact that this has happened and that Wendy Alexander has been in any way been implicated Charlie GordonLabour MSP Full statement | I acted in good faith and I deeply regret the fact that this has happened and that Wendy Alexander has been in any way been implicated Charlie GordonLabour MSP Full statement |
| On Wednesday, he said the registered donation was "a UK corporate one". | On Wednesday, he said the registered donation was "a UK corporate one". |
| However, it is now his understanding that Mr Green's name had been on the cheque. | However, it is now his understanding that Mr Green's name had been on the cheque. |
| "Clearly, at the moment, there's been a breech of the law, as it stands," said Mr McCabe, who insisted that all other donations to the campaign were made within the rules. | "Clearly, at the moment, there's been a breech of the law, as it stands," said Mr McCabe, who insisted that all other donations to the campaign were made within the rules. |
| The Labour MSP and former Scottish finance minister said the priority now was to co-operate with the Electoral Commission and "right a wrong that has clearly happened". | The Labour MSP and former Scottish finance minister said the priority now was to co-operate with the Electoral Commission and "right a wrong that has clearly happened". |
| Mr McCabe described Ms Alexander, who became Scottish Labour leader without the need for a leadership contest, as an honourable person. | Mr McCabe described Ms Alexander, who became Scottish Labour leader without the need for a leadership contest, as an honourable person. |
| Campaign team | Campaign team |
| He added: "She's clearly very upset that having secured the leadership and having done so successfully, this kind of distraction, I think, casts a shadow over the entire campaign." | He added: "She's clearly very upset that having secured the leadership and having done so successfully, this kind of distraction, I think, casts a shadow over the entire campaign." |
| Making a statement to journalists, Mr Gordon explained: "I asked for a donation from Mr Green, and he asked me to ensure that it was in line with the rules. | Making a statement to journalists, Mr Gordon explained: "I asked for a donation from Mr Green, and he asked me to ensure that it was in line with the rules. |
| "I handed the donation on to the campaign team and conveyed to them that it was a donation under the auspices of Combined Property Services and that Mr Green had a controlling interest in the company." | "I handed the donation on to the campaign team and conveyed to them that it was a donation under the auspices of Combined Property Services and that Mr Green had a controlling interest in the company." |
| The MSP for Glasgow Cathcart went on: "Unfortunately I was wrong in both these assumptions. | The MSP for Glasgow Cathcart went on: "Unfortunately I was wrong in both these assumptions. |
| Mr McCabe said other donations were within the rules | |
| "I acted in good faith and I deeply regret the fact that this has happened and that Wendy Alexander has been in any way been implicated." | "I acted in good faith and I deeply regret the fact that this has happened and that Wendy Alexander has been in any way been implicated." |
| Mr Gordon said he had apologised to Mr Green for the distress which the situation had caused him, as well as to Ms Alexander and her campaign team. | Mr Gordon said he had apologised to Mr Green for the distress which the situation had caused him, as well as to Ms Alexander and her campaign team. |
| Mr McCabe also said that modern electoral law was now "extremely complex", adding: "It is now very difficult, I think, to raise money for political campaigns and cover all the bases that make sure you're entirely within the law." | Mr McCabe also said that modern electoral law was now "extremely complex", adding: "It is now very difficult, I think, to raise money for political campaigns and cover all the bases that make sure you're entirely within the law." |
| The story emerged after revelations that a property developer gave £650,000 to the UK Labour Party through intermediaries, which may breach electoral law. | The story emerged 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. |
| 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". |