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Alexander says she will not quit Alexander 'owed donation apology'
(about 19 hours later)
Wendy Alexander has dismissed fresh calls for her to resign over donations to her leadership campaign. A former SNP deputy leader has said Wendy Alexander should receive an apology amid the latest row over her Labour leadership campaign donations.
The Scottish Labour leader said she was getting on with her job, including undertaking constituency engagements. The Holyrood watchdog reported her to the procurator fiscal for not recording gifts to her leadership campaign in the MSPs' register of interests.
It has emerged Ms Alexander has been reported to prosecutors for failing to publicly declare campaign donations. Former Nationalist MP Jim Sillars said the move was "astonishing".
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission is continuing to separately investigate an illegal donation to her leadership campaign. But standards chief Dr Jim Dyer said he was required to take such action if any alleged rule breach may be an offence.
Dr Jim Dyer, the Scottish Parliament's standards watchdog, referred Ms Alexander to the procurator fiscal for not recording donations to her leadership campaign in her MSP register of interests. Ms Alexander, who became Scottish Labour leader in September last year, had initially been told she did not need to register the donations after seeking advice from the clerk to the Scottish Parliament's standards committee.
Ms Alexander, who became Scottish Labour leader in September, had initially been told she did not need to register the donations. Labour said Dr Dyer - who operates independently from the committee - later informed the party this was "incorrect", prompting Ms Alexander to make a voluntary registration, detailing the donations.
But Labour said Dr Dyer later informed them this was "incorrect", prompting Ms Alexander to make a voluntary registration, detailing the donations. Mr Dyer should send an apology to Wendy Alexander. And I say that as a member of the SNP, not a Labour Party hack Jim Sillars
I don't think anybody's future should be called into question on the basis of following the advice of parliamentary authorities Wendy AlexanderScottish Labour leader
The fiscal will decide whether the case merits a police investigation.The fiscal will decide whether the case merits a police investigation.
Ms Alexander has described the development as a "distraction" and insisted she had followed all guidance. Mr Sillars told BBC Scotland: "If you refer someone to the procurator fiscal, you're implying that a criminal act has taken place.
However, the Scottish National Party said she was now in "an extremely weak position" and should go. "In my view, rather than refer to the [procurator fiscal], Mr Dyer should send an apology to Wendy Alexander. And I say that as a member of the SNP, not a Labour Party hack."
But Ms Alexander told BBC Radio Scotland: "I don't think anybody's future should be called into question on the basis of following the advice of parliamentary authorities." Dr Dyer said he could not comment on specific cases, but pointed out that he was not a "final arbiter" of what should be counted as a registerable interest.
The Labour leader added: "I am confident that I will be exonerated of any intentional wrong-doing when we finally get the Electoral Commission's report. That, he stated, was a matter for parliament or the courts.
"I think it's important in politics for you to do what you were elected to do, which is to stand up for your constituents." The parliamentary standards commissioner went on: "When I investigate a complaint I have, however, to reach a view on whether there may have been a breach of the rules; if such a breach would, if proved, be an offence, I have to stop investigating and report to the procurator fiscal."
Ms Alexander has also said politics in Scotland would be "ill served" if she were to quit. 'Erroneous advice'
Leadership 'endgame' Meanwhile, despite Mr Sillars' comments, Ms Alexander dismissed fresh calls from the SNP for her to resign over donations to her leadership campaign.
But SNP MSP Roseanna Cunningham called for Ms Alexander to step down. The Scottish Labour leader told BBC Radio Scotland: "I don't think anybody's future should be called into question on the basis of following the advice of parliamentary authorities."
She said: "Her position as Labour leader in Scotland looks like it is nearing the endgame. But SNP MSP Roseanna Cunningham said of Ms Alexander: "Her position as Labour leader in Scotland looks like it is nearing the endgame."
"Saying that she must stay on for the good of the Labour Party is either extreme bluster or arrogance. A Scottish Parliament spokesman said it had "no reason to believe" officials had given any MSP erroneous advice.
"Perhaps Labour in Scotland genuinely do consider themselves to be above the law." "The independent role of the Standards Commissioner means that he can take a different view - and therefore all advice from clerks is provided with the caveat that if a member is in any doubt, it is better to err on the side of caution and register," said the spokesman.
The row comes as the Electoral Commission continues to consider a donation to Ms Alexander's campaign from a Jersey-based businessman. Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission is continuing to separately investigate an illegal £950 donation to Ms Alexander's campaign from Jersey-based businessman Paul Green.
The £950 donation from Paul Green broke electoral law because he is not a UK voter. It broke electoral law because he was not a UK voter.