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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| MSPs are fully behind Alexander | MSPs are fully behind Alexander |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander has been given "unanimous" support by her party's MSPs to stay on in the job. | Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander has been given "unanimous" support by her party's MSPs to stay on in the job. |
| She refused to resign over the £950 illegal donation 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. |
| 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. |
| She said she had correspondence which showed her determination to ensure that campaign donations were above board. | She said she had correspondence which showed her determination to ensure that campaign donations were above board. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| He later said he had been wrong. | He later said he had been wrong. |
| It would be easy to quit, but also wrong Wendy AlexanderScottish Labour leader href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7120000/newsid_7127000?redirect=7127043.stm&news=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1&bbram=1&nbram=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">Alexander statement | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 interview | Paul 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." |
| 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 also denied she was staying on as leader at the urging of Prime Minister Gordon Brown. | 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. | 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. | "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. |