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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Apology as donations row deepens | Apology as donations row deepens |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Scottish Labour's leader has apologised for the funding row which has hit her party - as it emerged that Labour had received a second illegal donation. | Scottish Labour's leader has apologised for the funding row which has hit her party - as it emerged that Labour had received a second illegal donation. |
| Wendy Alexander said she "deeply regrets" that her leadership campaign accepted a payment from businessman Paul Green which broke donation rules. | Wendy Alexander said she "deeply regrets" that her leadership campaign accepted a payment from businessman Paul Green which broke donation rules. |
| The Electoral Commission has said it will examine all donations made to Ms Alexander during the campaign. | The Electoral Commission has said it will examine all donations made to Ms Alexander during the campaign. |
| Mr Green then revealed he had made a second gift to Labour. | Mr Green then revealed he had made a second gift to Labour. |
| The property developer, who is based in the Channel Islands, gave £950 to the Glasgow South branch of the party. | The property developer, who is based in the Channel Islands, gave £950 to the Glasgow South branch of the party. |
| That is the same figure he donated to Ms Alexander's leadership campaign. | That is the same figure he donated to Ms Alexander's leadership campaign. |
| When asked if I could donate, I was told there was no problem Paul Green class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/briantaylor/2007/11/personal_touch.html">Read Brian Taylor's blog | |
| 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. |
| Mr Green said he had received a personal letter from Ms Alexander thanking him for his contribution. | Mr Green said he had received a personal letter from Ms Alexander thanking him for his contribution. |
| "I am very angry after innocently becoming embroiled in a national controversy surrounding donations to the Scottish Labour Party," he said. | "I am very angry after innocently becoming embroiled in a national controversy surrounding donations to the Scottish Labour Party," he said. |
| "However, I have been completely exonerated. My donation to the Wendy Alexander campaign was open and above board. | "However, I have been completely exonerated. My donation to the Wendy Alexander campaign was open and above board. |
| "When asked if I could donate, I was told there was no problem." | "When asked if I could donate, I was told there was no problem." |
| Damaged party | Damaged party |
| In a statement, the 65-year-old said no questions had been raised when he made the donation to the Glasgow South Labour Party in April. | In a statement, the 65-year-old said no questions had been raised when he made the donation to the Glasgow South Labour Party in April. |
| Mr Green added that he was "dismayed" that Charlie Gordon, the MSP who sought the leadership campaign donation, was likely to lose his career over the row. | Mr Green added that he was "dismayed" that Charlie Gordon, the MSP who sought the leadership campaign donation, was likely to lose his career over the row. |
| "It has damaged the Labour Party that I support in Scotland and it was all so unnecessary if the party had only applied the rules," he added. | "It has damaged the Labour Party that I support in Scotland and it was all so unnecessary if the party had only applied the rules," he added. |
| I am not aware of any other donations made by Mr Green to any part of the Labour Party or to any Labour elected member Charlie GordonLabour MSP | |
| "I cannot understand why they continued to maintain that the donation had come through a UK company when I had a letter from Wendy Alexander thanking me personally." | "I cannot understand why they continued to maintain that the donation had come through a UK company when I had a letter from Wendy Alexander thanking me personally." |
| Labour said it was not told about Mr Green's earlier donation to the Glasgow South constituency. | Labour said it was not told about Mr Green's earlier donation to the Glasgow South constituency. |
| The party said the donation should have been referred to its compliance unit - and would have been rejected if that had happened. | The party said the donation should have been referred to its compliance unit - and would have been rejected if that had happened. |
| Mr Gordon confirmed on Friday that he had asked Mr Green to make the donation in April. | Mr Gordon confirmed on Friday that he had asked Mr Green to make the donation in April. |
| He said he had written to the chairman of the Glasgow South party after he realised the "invalidity" of the latest donation. | He said he had written to the chairman of the Glasgow South party after he realised the "invalidity" of the latest donation. |
| 'In good faith' | 'In good faith' |
| In that letter he told the chairman that he may have made a similar error interpreting the donation rules and advised him to notify the Electoral Commission. | In that letter he told the chairman that he may have made a similar error interpreting the donation rules and advised him to notify the Electoral Commission. |
| Mr Gordon has apologised to the party chairman and Mr Green, and stressed that he had acted in good faith. | Mr Gordon has apologised to the party chairman and Mr Green, and stressed that he had acted in good faith. |
| I deeply regret that this situation has occurred... I am very sorry for it Wendy AlexanderScottish Labour leader class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/7121478.stm">Devolution review body call | |
| "I am not aware of any other donations made by Mr Green to any part of the Labour Party or to any Labour elected member," he added. | "I am not aware of any other donations made by Mr Green to any part of the Labour Party or to any Labour elected member," he added. |
| The Electoral Commission said on Friday that it had written to Ms Alexander to request details of the donations received by her campaign. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "They are looking in to it and it really is inappropriate for me to comment on any specifics at this time." |
| Clear contradictions | Clear contradictions |
| She said a cheque had been returned to the commission, which was standard procedure. | She said a cheque had been returned to the commission, which was standard procedure. |
| The SNP said it expected the Electoral Commission to refer matters to the police for investigation. | The SNP said it expected the Electoral Commission to refer matters to the police for investigation. |
| The party said there were "clear contradictions" between statements made on behalf of Ms Alexander and claims made by Mr Green. | The party said there were "clear contradictions" between statements made on behalf of Ms Alexander and claims made by Mr Green. |
| A spokesman said Ms Alexander's leadership of Labour was becoming "increasingly untenable". | A spokesman said Ms Alexander's leadership of Labour was becoming "increasingly untenable". |