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Alexander reported over donations | Alexander reported over donations |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Scotland's parliamentary watchdog has reported the Scottish Labour leader to prosecutors for failing to publicly declare campaign donations. | |
Dr Jim Dyer reported Wendy Alexander to the procurator fiscal for not recording gifts to her leadership campaign in the MSPs' register of interests. | |
The fiscal will decide whether the case merits a police investigation. | |
Labour MSP Andy Kerr has also been reported for late registration of hospitality from McDonald's. | |
Ms Alexander said last week parliament officials wrongly told her it was unnecessary to declare donations. | Ms Alexander said last week parliament officials wrongly told her it was unnecessary to declare donations. |
She has since updated her register with details of 10 donors who each gave around £1,000 to her campaign. | She has since updated her register with details of 10 donors who each gave around £1,000 to her campaign. |
Her brother, Labour MP and international development secretary Douglas Alexander, said she had done "exactly what was asked of her". | |
He explained: "Wendy actually contacted the standards clerk within the parliament, sought the guidance of the clerk, the clerk said these were not declarable. | |
"The standards commissioner has now changed his mind and freely acknowledges he has changed his mind and as a consequence of that has said it's necessary for these donations to be reported. | |
"As soon as the ruling was changed, she disclosed the donors and reported them to the parliament." | |
'Crisis to crisis' | |
The procurator fiscal is Scotland's public prosecutor. | The procurator fiscal is Scotland's public prosecutor. |
The Electoral Commission is separately investigating an illegal donation to her leadership campaign and has still to decide whether to report the matter to prosecutors. | The Electoral Commission is separately investigating an illegal donation to her leadership campaign and has still to decide whether to report the matter to prosecutors. |
The commission's other investigation involves a £950 donation from a Jersey-based businessman to support Ms Alexander's campaign. | The commission's other investigation involves a £950 donation from a Jersey-based businessman to support Ms Alexander's campaign. |
The donation from Paul Green broke electoral law because the businessman is not a registered UK voter. | The donation from Paul Green broke electoral law because the businessman is not a registered UK voter. |
Ms Alexander said parliament officials told her donations to her leadership campaign did not have to be recorded in her MSP register of interests. | Ms Alexander said parliament officials told her donations to her leadership campaign did not have to be recorded in her MSP register of interests. |
But Standards Commissioner Dr Dyer has taken advice from a QC and told the Labour leader all donations over £520 are classed as "gifts" and should have been declared. | But Standards Commissioner Dr Dyer has taken advice from a QC and told the Labour leader all donations over £520 are classed as "gifts" and should have been declared. |
Ms Alexander said she was now updating her register and has challenged MSPs from all parties who have stood in previous leadership contests to follow her example. | Ms Alexander said she was now updating her register and has challenged MSPs from all parties who have stood in previous leadership contests to follow her example. |
The Scottish Labour leader has insisted that she remains confident of being cleared of any "intentional" wrongdoing relating to her campaign fund. | The Scottish Labour leader has insisted that she remains confident of being cleared of any "intentional" wrongdoing relating to her campaign fund. |
Last week the SNP's Roseanna Cunningham said Ms Alexander's position was becoming "more and more untenable". | Last week the SNP's Roseanna Cunningham said Ms Alexander's position was becoming "more and more untenable". |
She said Ms Alexander's leadership was "lurching from crisis to crisis", adding that it was "clear the vultures in the Labour party are circling". | She said Ms Alexander's leadership was "lurching from crisis to crisis", adding that it was "clear the vultures in the Labour party are circling". |
Wendy Alexander will be interviewed on BBC Scotland's Politics Show at 1230 GMT |