This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7224739.stm

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
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. Wendy Alexander has said she will not step down as Scottish Labour leader, after being reported to prosecutors for not declaring donations.
Dr Jim Dyer referred Wendy Alexander to the procurator fiscal for not recording gifts to her leadership campaign in the MSPs' register of interests. The Holyrood watchdog referred her to the procurator fiscal for not recording gifts to her leadership campaign in the MSPs' register of interests.
Ms Alexander described the development as a "distraction", and insisted she had followed all guidance.
However, her opponents said she was now in a weak position.
The fiscal will decide whether the case merits a police investigation.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. I certainly think it's a distraction, but the important thing is I'm getting on with my job Wendy AlexanderScottish Labour leader
Ms Alexander, who said parliament officials wrongly told her it was unnecessary to declare donations, has since updated her register with details of 10 donors who each gave about £1,000 to her leadership campaign.Ms Alexander, who said parliament officials wrongly told her it was unnecessary to declare donations, has since updated her register with details of 10 donors who each gave about £1,000 to her leadership campaign.
The Labour Party and Scottish politics would be ill-served by my resignation Wendy AlexanderScottish Labour leader She said she took the action after Scottish parliamentary standards commissioner Dr Jim Dyer took advice from a senior QC and decided the donations should be treated as gifts, before passing the case to the fiscal.
She said she took the action after Dr Dyer took advice from a senior QC and decided the donations should be treated as gifts. Ms Alexander told BBC Scotland's Politics Show she had followed the guidance at every stage and acted promptly upon it, saying of the referral to the fiscal: "I certainly think it's a distraction, but the important thing is I'm getting on with my job."
Ms Alexander said she had followed the guidance at every stage and acted promptly upon it, insisting: "I am clear that suggestions that I have been guilty of trying to subvert the law in the registration of donations are completely unfounded. She went on: "I think it's wholly inappropriate that if you follow the advice of the parliamentary authorities, that should be used as a reason to call for your resignation.
"I am also very clear that the Labour Party and Scottish politics would be ill-served by my resignation. "The issue is whether leadership election campaign contributions are gifts and that is a point on which the procurator fiscal will in due course have to decide.
"Despite the smears and accusations from my political opponents, I will not stand down for having followed the parliamentary authorities' guidance." "In every other leadership election campaign, they've not been construed as gifts."
Mr Kerr submitted his declaration several days late 'Frustrating' timescale
Mr Kerr said he had made a mistake when a declaration he submitted on 7 September, for an event held on the weekend of 3 and 4 August was four days late.
The former Scottish health minister received hospitality worth £570 and match tickets worth £450 which he said were auctioned, with the proceeds going to the Kilbryde Hospice Campaign charity.
Mr Kerr said there was no attempt to disguise his attendance, but the East Kilbride MSP added: "All of that being said, it would be clear to anyone that given the public knowledge of my attendance that this simply boils down to and error on my part, which I regret."
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission is continuing to separately investigate an illegal donation to Ms Alexander's leadership campaign.Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission is continuing to separately investigate an illegal donation to Ms Alexander's leadership campaign.
The £950 donation from Jersey-based businessman Paul Green broke electoral law because he is not a UK voter, but the Scottish Labour leader said she remained confident of being cleared of any "intentional" wrongdoing. The £950 donation from Jersey-based businessman Paul Green broke electoral law because he is not a UK voter, but the Scottish Labour leader said she remained confident of being cleared of any "intentional" wrong-doing.
Wendy Alexander will be interviewed on BBC Scotland's Politics Show at 1230 GMT. Ms Alexander told BBC Scotland: "Everybody is as frustrated as I am by the length of time that it's taking the Electoral Commission to come to a conclusion, but they need to be allowed to get on with their job."
Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney told the politics show there needed to be urgent progress on the commission's probe.
He went on: "Quite clearly, Wendy Alexander is in a very, very weak position as a result of the battering that she's been taking on this particular question for many weeks.
"If the parliamentary standards commissioner has felt it necessary to report Wendy Alexander to the procurator fiscal, then the Electoral Commission has absolutely no alternative."
It also emerged that Labour MSP Andy Kerr has been reported to the fiscal, for late registration of hospitality from McDonald's.
The former Scottish health minister said he had made a mistake when a declaration he submitted on 7 September, for an event held on the weekend of 3 and 4 August was four days late.
He received hospitality worth £570 and match tickets worth £450 which he said were auctioned, with the proceeds going to the Kilbryde Hospice Campaign charity.
Mr Kerr said there was no attempt to disguise his attendance, but the East Kilbride MSP added: "All of that being said, it would be clear to anyone that given the public knowledge of my attendance that this simply boils down to and error on my part, which I regret."