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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Alexander battling on as leader | Alexander battling on as leader |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Further pressure is being piled on Wendy Alexander to quit as Scottish Labour leader over the illegal donation to her leadership campaign. | Further pressure is being piled on Wendy Alexander to quit as Scottish Labour leader over the illegal donation to her leadership campaign. |
| Ms Alexander said she did not break the law intentionally when she accepted the money and can clear her name. | Ms Alexander said she did not break the law intentionally when she accepted the money and can clear her name. |
| But the SNP said she was being used by Labour as a "human shield" to protect Gordon Brown from further criticism. | But the SNP said she was being used by Labour as a "human shield" to protect Gordon Brown from further criticism. |
| A donation of £950 was illegal because it came from a Jersey-based businessman who is not a UK voter. | A donation of £950 was illegal because it came from a Jersey-based businessman who is not a UK voter. |
| Newspaper reports at the weekend suggested Ms Alexander's campaign team had doubts about the donation a month ago. | Newspaper reports at the weekend suggested Ms Alexander's campaign team had doubts about the donation a month ago. |
| The SNP say she has been damaged beyond recovery and claim she is being used as a "human shield" to protect the prime minister. | The SNP say she has been damaged beyond recovery and claim she is being used as a "human shield" to protect the prime minister. |
| I reject any suggestion of intentional wrongdoing on my part Wendy Alexander Read Brian Taylor's blog Timeline: Donations row | |
| They claim that if Ms Alexander quits over a relatively small donation it would add to the questions facing Labour at Westminster over much larger sums. | They claim that if Ms Alexander quits over a relatively small donation it would add to the questions facing Labour at Westminster over much larger sums. |
| The Electoral Commission watchdog has already been in contact with Ms Alexander, looking for details of all the donations made to her campaign fund. | The Electoral Commission watchdog has already been in contact with Ms Alexander, looking for details of all the donations made to her campaign fund. |
| Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Ms Alexander had lost "all credibility" and that her position appeared untenable. | Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Ms Alexander had lost "all credibility" and that her position appeared untenable. |
| Ms Sturgeon said: "The only reason Ms Alexander is staying in post is to act as a human shield for Gordon Brown whose sole priority is not her interests or Scottish Labour; it's to prevent the house of cards collapsing down south." | Ms Sturgeon said: "The only reason Ms Alexander is staying in post is to act as a human shield for Gordon Brown whose sole priority is not her interests or Scottish Labour; it's to prevent the house of cards collapsing down south." |
| She added: "Wendy Alexander certainly can't hide behind an Electoral Commission inquiry and likely forthcoming police inquiry without answering any of the obvious questions; who knew what, when and how." | She added: "Wendy Alexander certainly can't hide behind an Electoral Commission inquiry and likely forthcoming police inquiry without answering any of the obvious questions; who knew what, when and how." |
| Jackie Baillie, a member of Ms Alexander's campaign team, insisted the Labour leader did not understand that the donation was illegal. | Jackie Baillie, a member of Ms Alexander's campaign team, insisted the Labour leader did not understand that the donation was illegal. |
| She told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "She is showing incredible strength of character and a determination to see this matter to a conclusion. | She told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "She is showing incredible strength of character and a determination to see this matter to a conclusion. |
| "I am confident she will be exonerated of any intentional wrongdoing." | |
| Proxy donors | Proxy donors |
| Ms Alexander, who became Scottish Labour leader in September, said in a statement at the weekend: "I deeply regret the damage which recent publicity has brought to the Labour Party. | Ms Alexander, who became Scottish Labour leader in September, said in a statement at the weekend: "I deeply regret the damage which recent publicity has brought to the Labour Party. |
| "However, I reject any suggestion of intentional wrongdoing on my part." | |
| The prime minister has vowed to give his backing to the "fullest possible investigation" into Labour funding. | The prime minister has vowed to give his backing to the "fullest possible investigation" into Labour funding. |
| Gordon Brown said he was "ready to assist" any police probe and had asked Labour MPs, staff and peers to "co-operate fully". | Gordon Brown said he was "ready to assist" any police probe and had asked Labour MPs, staff and peers to "co-operate fully". |
| They are investigating gifts to UK Labour of more than £650,000 which businessman David Abrahams made using proxy donors. | They are investigating gifts to UK Labour of more than £650,000 which businessman David Abrahams made using proxy donors. |