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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Alexander wrote to illegal donor | Alexander wrote to illegal donor |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Scottish Labour party's leader has admitted that she wrote personally to the businessman who made an illegal donation to her leadership campaign. | The Scottish Labour party's leader has admitted that she wrote personally to the businessman who made an illegal donation to her leadership campaign. |
| Wendy Alexander had earlier apologised for the row over the donation from Paul Green, which broke rules outlawing donations from people based offshore. | Wendy Alexander had earlier apologised for the row over the donation from Paul Green, which broke rules outlawing donations from people based offshore. |
| The businessman revealed Ms Alexander had written to thank him for the cheque - one of two he gifted to Labour. | The businessman revealed Ms Alexander had written to thank him for the cheque - one of two he gifted to Labour. |
| The SNP said the Labour leader's position was becoming "untenable". | The SNP said the Labour leader's position was becoming "untenable". |
| However, her team said she had done nothing wrong and would be "toughing it out". | However, her team said she had done nothing wrong and would be "toughing it out". |
| When asked if I could donate, I was told there was no problem Paul Green Read Brian Taylor's blog | When asked if I could donate, I was told there was no problem Paul Green Read Brian Taylor's blog |
| The Electoral Commission has said it will examine all donations made to Ms Alexander during her leadership the campaign. | The Electoral Commission has said it will examine all donations made to Ms Alexander during her leadership the campaign. |
| Mr Green, who is based in the Channel Islands, gave £950 to that campaign at the request of Glasgow MSP Charlie Gordon. | Mr Green, who is based in the Channel Islands, gave £950 to that campaign at the request of Glasgow MSP Charlie Gordon. |
| Mr Green revealed on Friday that he had earlier given a similar amount to the Glasgow South branch of the party. | Mr Green revealed on Friday that he had earlier given a similar amount to the Glasgow South branch of the party. |
| In a statement, the 65-year-old said no questions had been raised when he made the donation in April. | In a statement, the 65-year-old said no questions had been raised when he made the donation in April. |
| Mr Green said he had received a personal letter from Ms Alexander thanking him for his later contribution. | Mr Green said he had received a personal letter from Ms Alexander thanking him for his later contribution. |
| 'Unnecessary damage' | 'Unnecessary damage' |
| "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." |
| He said the row had caused "unnecessary" damage to the party in Scotland. | He said the row had caused "unnecessary" damage to the party in Scotland. |
| I deeply regret that this situation has occurred... I am very sorry for it Wendy AlexanderScottish Labour leader Devolution review body call class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/7122020.stm">Alexander's letter in full | |
| "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," he added. | "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," he added. |
| In a short statement, a spokeswoman for Ms Alexander said: "As with other donors, Wendy Alexander wrote a thank you letter to Paul Green. | In a short statement, a spokeswoman for Ms Alexander said: "As with other donors, Wendy Alexander wrote a thank you letter to Paul Green. |
| "As said previously, we will continue to co-operate fully with the Electoral Commission." | "As said previously, we will continue to co-operate fully with the Electoral Commission." |
| The spokeswoman also confirmed that Ms Alexander had "regulated donee" status. | The spokeswoman also confirmed that Ms Alexander had "regulated donee" status. |
| This means she is liable to check the admissibility of all donations above £200 - such as the gift from Mr Green. | This means she is liable to check the admissibility of all donations above £200 - such as the gift from Mr Green. |
| Political experience | Political experience |
| Tory deputy leader Murdo Fraser asked: "When Wendy Alexander signed her letter to Mr Green, did she not think to query the Jersey address? | Tory deputy leader Murdo Fraser asked: "When Wendy Alexander signed her letter to Mr Green, did she not think to query the Jersey address? |
| "Is it credible to suggest that the Scottish Labour leader, with a long track record of political experience, would have been totally unaware of the law on political donations?" | "Is it credible to suggest that the Scottish Labour leader, with a long track record of political experience, would have been totally unaware of the law on political donations?" |
| However, Ms Alexander's team said she had been as much in the dark as others because they believed it had been a corporate donation. | However, Ms Alexander's team said she had been as much in the dark as others because they believed it had been a corporate donation. |
| In her statement issued earlier, Ms Alexander told reporters: "I deeply regret that this situation has occurred. | In her statement issued earlier, Ms Alexander told reporters: "I deeply regret that this situation has occurred. |
| 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 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 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." |
| 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. |
| Mr Gordon has apologised to the party chairman and to Mr Green, and stressed that he had acted in good faith. | Mr Gordon has apologised to the party chairman and to Mr Green, and stressed that he had acted in good faith. |
| "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. |
| Police investigation | Police investigation |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| MSP Roseanna Cunningham said the responsibility lay with Ms Alexander. | MSP Roseanna Cunningham said the responsibility lay with Ms Alexander. |
| "One way or another, there must be a police investigation," she said. | "One way or another, there must be a police investigation," she said. |
| "Wendy Alexander's position is becoming increasingly untenable - by the day and by the hour." | "Wendy Alexander's position is becoming increasingly untenable - by the day and by the hour." |