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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Alexander cleared over donations | Alexander cleared over donations |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Wendy Alexander will not be reported to prosecutors after her Scottish Labour leadership campaign received an illegal donation, election watchdogs have said. | |
| The Electoral Commission said there was not sufficient evidence to prove an offence had been committed. | The Electoral Commission said there was not sufficient evidence to prove an offence had been committed. |
| Labour MSP Charlie Gordon sought the £950 from Jersey-based developer Paul Green, which broke electoral law. | Labour MSP Charlie Gordon sought the £950 from Jersey-based developer Paul Green, which broke electoral law. |
| The commission said Ms Alexander did not take all reasonable steps to comply with legislation. | The commission said Ms Alexander did not take all reasonable steps to comply with legislation. |
| However, it said that she had taken "significant" steps. | However, it said that she had taken "significant" steps. |
| Ms Alexander's campaign team earlier admitted the donation broke the law, but the Scottish Labour leader has always insisted there was no "intentional" wrongdoing. | Ms Alexander's campaign team earlier admitted the donation broke the law, but the Scottish Labour leader has always insisted there was no "intentional" wrongdoing. |
| Watchdog warning | Watchdog warning |
| There will be a separate report on Mr Gordon's role, but that is not expected to emerge on Thursday. | There will be a separate report on Mr Gordon's role, but that is not expected to emerge on Thursday. |
| The Electoral Commission said it was "not in the public interest" to report to prosecutors on the issue of whether accepting the donation was an offence. | The Electoral Commission said it was "not in the public interest" to report to prosecutors on the issue of whether accepting the donation was an offence. |
| It also ruled there was no evidence to establish that Ms Alexander's campaign team had sought to conceal or give false information surrounding the donation. | It also ruled there was no evidence to establish that Ms Alexander's campaign team had sought to conceal or give false information surrounding the donation. |
| "The conclusions reached by the commission are the result of its independent judgment, following a thorough investigation," said the commission's statement. | "The conclusions reached by the commission are the result of its independent judgment, following a thorough investigation," said the commission's statement. |
| Charlie Gordon's role will be dealt with in a separate report | |
| "Extraneous considerations such as political or public opinion have played no part in this process, nor have they played any part in the commission's decision-making." | "Extraneous considerations such as political or public opinion have played no part in this process, nor have they played any part in the commission's decision-making." |
| The donation from Mr Green broke electoral law because he is not a UK voter. | The donation from Mr Green broke electoral law because he is not a UK voter. |
| Scottish Conservative deputy leader Murdo Fraser said the donation issue was "the least of Labour's worries", claiming that the party's involvement the Scottish Government's budget, passed on Wednesday, was "a complete and dismal failure". | Scottish Conservative deputy leader Murdo Fraser said the donation issue was "the least of Labour's worries", claiming that the party's involvement the Scottish Government's budget, passed on Wednesday, was "a complete and dismal failure". |
| Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Rumbles added: "The Electoral Commission's conclusions underline the lack of transparency and openness which has dogged Labour politicians, including Wendy Alexander, who have faced serious questions about inappropriate or illegal donations." |