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Alexander cleared over donations Alexander cleared over donations
(about 1 hour later)
Wendy Alexander will not be reported to prosecutors after her Scottish Labour leadership campaign received an illegal donation, election watchdogs have said.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, but said not all reasonable steps had been taken to prevent one.
Labour MSP Charlie Gordon sought the £950 from Jersey-based developer Paul Green, which broke electoral law. Ms Alexander will continue with her job, but the SNP said the "not proven" finding had weakened her leadership.
Ms Alexander said she had been vindicated, but expressed "deep regret" that the donation had been accepted. Her campaign accepted a £950 from Jersey-based developer Paul Green.
The commission said Ms Alexander did not take all reasonable steps to comply with legislation. Ms Alexander, whose campaign team admitted the donation broke the law, said she had been vindicated, but expressed "deep regret" that the money was ever accepted.
However, it said that she had taken "significant" steps.
Personally this has been both a salutary, and bruising experience Wendy AlexanderPersonally this has been both a salutary, and bruising experience Wendy Alexander
Ms Alexander's campaign team earlier admitted the donation broke the law, but the Scottish Labour leader said the commission's decision had proven her "honesty and integrity". The commission ruled Ms Alexander did not take all reasonable steps to comply with the law, but found she had taken "significant" steps.
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 Scottish Labour leader said the decision had proven her "honesty and integrity", but insisted lessons would be learned.
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.
Ms Alexander, who will continue as leader, said mistakes were made, but lessons would be learned.
"I welcome the commission's decision that there is no basis for any finding of intentional wrongdoing on the part of me or my campaign team," she told a press conference at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh."I welcome the commission's decision that there is no basis for any finding of intentional wrongdoing on the part of me or my campaign team," she told a press conference at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.
'Not proven' verdict
"As I have maintained from the outset, there was no intentional wrongdoing on my part and I have now been vindicated by the independent body charged with policing electoral law.
"I deeply regret that my campaign accepted a £950 donation, which it transpired was in breach of the rules, and I apologise, again, to my colleagues, my party and the public.""I deeply regret that my campaign accepted a £950 donation, which it transpired was in breach of the rules, and I apologise, again, to my colleagues, my party and the public."
Ms Alexander went on: "Personally this has been both a salutary, and bruising experience. Some of the coverage has hurt me and caused distress to many entirely innocent friends, my family and donors." Ms Alexander added: "Personally this has been both a salutary, and bruising experience. Some of the coverage has hurt me and caused distress to many entirely innocent friends, my family and donors."
The commission stated: "The conclusions reached by the commission are the result of its independent judgment, following a thorough investigation. Mr Green's donation, solicited by Labour MSP Charlie Gordon, broke electoral law because the businessman is not a UK voter.
"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."
Charlie Gordon had sought the donation from Mr GreenCharlie Gordon had sought the donation from Mr Green
The donation from Mr Green broke electoral law because he is not a UK voter. The Electoral Commission said it was "not in the public interest" to report to the Crown Office or Procurator Fiscal Service on the issue of whether accepting the donation was an offence.
Despite the findings, Nationalist MSP Roseanna Cunningham said an offence had clearly been committed. 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 cash.
"This sounds like a 'not proven' decision from the Electoral Commission, which is extraordinary given that Wendy Alexander's campaign accepted an illegal donation," she said, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said: "As far as what the Electoral Commission have had to say, it sounds a bit like a not proven - there's not sufficient evidence for this or not sufficient evidence for that."
"Her leadership has been fundamentally weakened by this affair." He went on: "This whole affair has been hugely damaging for Wendy Alexander's leadership of the Labour party and a part of a pattern of mis-donation across the Labour party, which has been hugely damaging for that institution."
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."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."