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Alexander tries to look to future Alexander apology over donation
(about 4 hours later)
Wendy Alexander will attempt to put the controversy over her campaign funding behind her with a scene-setting speech on Scotland's future. The leader of the Scottish Labour Party has publicly apologised for the funding row that has engulfed her party.
The Scottish Labour leader's political rivals have accused her of hiding behind colleagues when the row broke. Wendy Alexander said she "deeply regrets" that her Labour leadership campaign accepted an illegal donation.
It emerged on Thursday that her campaign broke the law by accepting money from a Jersey-based businessman. Her comments came as the Electoral Commission announced it would examine all donations made to Ms Alexander during her leadership campaign.
As she tries to move on from the row, Ms Alexander will set out plans for further constitutional reform. The businessman who made the illegal donation has revealed that he made another contribution to Labour.
She will also warn that Labour cannot be seen as "unthinking unionists" - and must be prepared to take risks in countering the challenge of the SNP. Paul Green, who is based in Jersey, gifted £950 to the Glasgow South branch of the party.
Sought donation Personal letter
The speech comes the day after her campaign manager, Tom McCabe, admitted that donation rules had been broken when a cheque for £950 was accepted from developer Paul Green. That is the same figure he donated to Ms Alexander's leadership campaign.
The revelations led to the resignation of Labour's transport spokesman at Holyrood, Charlie Gordon, who had sought the donation from Mr Green.
It is illegal for people who are based offshore to donate to a UK political party.It is illegal for people who are based offshore to donate to a UK political party.
Ms Alexander has a lot of questions to answer, and I am sure that both the Electoral Commission and the police will be keen to ask them Roseanna CunninghamSNP MSP Mr Green said he had received a personal letter from Ms Alexander thanking him for his contribution.
The matter has been reported to the Electoral Commission by Labour. The property developer said he was "very angry" to have become embroiled in a national controversy surrounding political donations.
I deeply regret that this situation has occurred... I am very sorry for it Wendy AlexanderScottish Labour leader Read Brian Taylor's blog
The Electoral Commission said on Friday that it had written to Ms Alexander to request details of the donations received by her campaign.
In her first public comment on the revelations, Ms Alexander told reporters: "I deeply regret that this situation has occurred.
"I am very sorry for it. I realise that you will have many questions but it's a matter for the Electoral Commission.
"They are looking in to it and it really is inappropriate for me to comment on any specifics at this time."
She said a cheque had been returned to the commission, which was standard procedure.
Constitutional commission
The donation had been sought by Labour MSP Charlie Gordon, who has resigned as the party's transport spokesman over the row.
Ms Alexander was speaking after delivering a speech on Scotland's place in the UK, which had aimed to drawing a line under the controversy.
She called for the creation of a Scottish constitutional commission to look into the devolution settlement.
She said more tax raising powers for Holyrood should be at the heart of its work, instead of the one-off block grant the Scottish Government currently received from Westminster.
Charlie Gordon may have taken the cheque but Wendy Alexander must take the responsibility Roseanna CunninghamSNP MSP
The SNP has claimed that Labour is in "meltdown" on both sides of the border.The SNP has claimed that Labour is in "meltdown" on both sides of the border.
SNP MSP Roseanna Cunningham said the case "casts a huge question mark over Wendy Alexander's judgement and her leadership abilities".SNP MSP Roseanna Cunningham said the case "casts a huge question mark over Wendy Alexander's judgement and her leadership abilities".
"Charlie Gordon may have taken the cheque but Wendy Alexander must take the responsibility," she said."Charlie Gordon may have taken the cheque but Wendy Alexander must take the responsibility," she said.
"It was her campaign, it is her party and this is a mess of her own making. She cannot continue to hide."It was her campaign, it is her party and this is a mess of her own making. She cannot continue to hide.
"Ms Alexander has a lot of questions to answer, and I am sure that both the Electoral Commission and the police will be keen to ask them.""Ms Alexander has a lot of questions to answer, and I am sure that both the Electoral Commission and the police will be keen to ask them."
Referred to policeReferred to police
The Scottish Conservatives' deputy leader, Murdo Fraser, said: "This is a huge embarrassment for the Labour Party in Scotland.The Scottish Conservatives' deputy leader, Murdo Fraser, said: "This is a huge embarrassment for the Labour Party in Scotland.
"The way in which Labour has handled this issue demonstrates either inability or reluctance to get to the core of the problem. Neither explanation is impressive.""The way in which Labour has handled this issue demonstrates either inability or reluctance to get to the core of the problem. Neither explanation is impressive."
South of the border, the row over donations to Labour by property developer David Abrahams has been referred to police by the Electoral Commission.South of the border, the row over donations to Labour by property developer David Abrahams has been referred to police by the Electoral Commission.
The Lib Dems and Conservatives had already urged Scotland Yard to investigate after Gordon Brown said donations were not "lawfully declared".The Lib Dems and Conservatives had already urged Scotland Yard to investigate after Gordon Brown said donations were not "lawfully declared".