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MSPs are fully behind Alexander MSPs are fully behind Alexander
(about 1 hour later)
Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander has been given unanmimous support from her party's MSPs at Holyrood. Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander has been given "unanimous" support by her party's MSPs to stay on in the job.
She has refused to resign over the £950 illegal donation which was accepted by her leadership campaign team from Jersey-based businessman Paul Green. She refused to resign over the £950 illegal donation accepted by her leadership campaign team from Jersey-based businessman Paul Green.
Labour MSP Duncan McNeil said that Ms Alexander was given backing from her colleagues at their weekly briefing.
Ms Alexander acknowledged that mistakes had been made, but said she would fight on to clear her name.Ms Alexander acknowledged that mistakes had been made, but said she would fight on to clear her name.
Earlier, Mr Green said there had been "gross mismanagement" at the top of the Scottish Labour Party. She said she had correspondence which showed her determination to ensure that campaign donations were above board.
Ms Alexander claims she had not known that the cash broke electoral law. Duncan McNeil, chairman of the Scottish Parliament Labour group, said Ms Alexander was given "absolutely unanimous" backing by party MSPs during one of their regular meetings.
It would be easy to quit, but also wrong Wendy AlexanderScottish Labour leader Alexander statementIt would be easy to quit, but also wrong Wendy AlexanderScottish Labour leader Alexander statement
The donation was illegal because it came from someone not on the electoral register. Meanwhile Charlie Gordon, who asked Mr Green for the donation, said he would make a decision on his "political future" later in the week, but declined to be drawn on whether he would resign as the MSP for Glasgow Cathcart.
In his first interview on the controversy, Mr Green told BBC Scotland that his donation was clearly a personal cheque. Mr Gordon, who has already quit as Scottish Labour transport spokesman, had told the campaign team that the donation was "under the auspices" of a Glasgow firm in which Mr Green had a controlling interest.
Speaking later at the Scottish Parliament, Ms Alexander said: "I have never sought to mislead. I am not dishonest in any way and I have always believed that politicians should have the highest standards of integrity. He later said he had been wrong.
'Mistakes made'
The donation was illegal because it came from someone not on the electoral register and, in his first interview on the controversy, Mr Green said it was clearly a personal cheque.
Speaking at the Scottish Parliament, Ms Alexander attempted to put the crisis behind her by expressing determination to get on with the job of holding the SNP government to account.
She said: "I have never sought to mislead. I am not dishonest in any way and I have always believed that politicians should have the highest standards of integrity.
"My campaign did not set out to intentionally mislead or break the rules. Mistakes have been made."My campaign did not set out to intentionally mislead or break the rules. Mistakes have been made.
Paul Green said he wrote a personal cheque Paul Green interviewPaul Green said he wrote a personal cheque Paul Green interview
"It would be easy to quit, but also wrong. To give up this job in these circumstances would be also to give up my reputation for integrity and honesty and I am not prepared to do that.""It would be easy to quit, but also wrong. To give up this job in these circumstances would be also to give up my reputation for integrity and honesty and I am not prepared to do that."
Meanwhile Charlie Gordon, who asked Mr Green for the donation, said he would make a decision on his political future later this week, but declined to be drawn on whether he would resign as the Labour MSP for Glasgow Cathcart.
Ms Alexander said she would be informing the Electoral Commission watchdog "in full", adding: "For the record, there is repeated correspondence initiated by me personally dealing with the issue of permissibility and demonstrating my interest in ensuring that donations received were indeed permissible."Ms Alexander said she would be informing the Electoral Commission watchdog "in full", adding: "For the record, there is repeated correspondence initiated by me personally dealing with the issue of permissibility and demonstrating my interest in ensuring that donations received were indeed permissible."
She said she now wanted to get on with the job of leading Labour at Holyrood and holding the SNP government to account. She also denied she was staying on as leader at the urging of Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Mr McNeil said he was confident Ms Alexander would be exonerated after the Electoral Commission had examined the situation.
"I am delighted to say, as I fully expected, she has got clear, overwhelming support in the group for her to continue in the job throughout this difficult period," he said, following the meeting on Tuesday.