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04/02/2008
Scottish Labour Leader Protests Innocence Over Donations
Scottish Labour Leader Wendy Alexander has defiantly insisted she will not be stepping down despite being reported to prosecuting authorities for not registering donations to her leadership campaign.
Ms Alexander stated that she had no intention of following the precedent set by Peter Hain, who resigned 10 days ago as Work and Pensions Secretary after the Electoral Commission referred donations to his UK deputy leadership campaign to the police.
Last week, Ms Alexander publicly declared the top donors to her leadership campaign, naming 10 supporters who each gave just under £1,000. Ms Alexander explained she was disclosing the donors' details following advice from Dr Jim Dyer, the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.
Initially Alexander had been advised she did not need to register the donations on Holyrood's register of MSPs' interests - but Labour said Dr Dyer later told them this was "incorrect", which then lead to Ms Alexander detailing the donations.
Ms Alexander maintains that she is innocent and is determined to clear her name.
In a statement on Sunday Alexander said the Standards Commissioner had to refer the case to the procurator fiscal automatically.
She added: "I am clear that suggestions that I have been guilty of trying to subvert the law in the registration of donations are completely unfounded.
"I am also very clear that the Labour Party and Scottish politics would be ill-served by my resignation.
"Despite the smears and accusations from my political opponents, I will not stand down for having followed the Parliamentary authorities' guidance," she said.
(GC)
Ms Alexander stated that she had no intention of following the precedent set by Peter Hain, who resigned 10 days ago as Work and Pensions Secretary after the Electoral Commission referred donations to his UK deputy leadership campaign to the police.
Last week, Ms Alexander publicly declared the top donors to her leadership campaign, naming 10 supporters who each gave just under £1,000. Ms Alexander explained she was disclosing the donors' details following advice from Dr Jim Dyer, the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.
Initially Alexander had been advised she did not need to register the donations on Holyrood's register of MSPs' interests - but Labour said Dr Dyer later told them this was "incorrect", which then lead to Ms Alexander detailing the donations.
Ms Alexander maintains that she is innocent and is determined to clear her name.
In a statement on Sunday Alexander said the Standards Commissioner had to refer the case to the procurator fiscal automatically.
She added: "I am clear that suggestions that I have been guilty of trying to subvert the law in the registration of donations are completely unfounded.
"I am also very clear that the Labour Party and Scottish politics would be ill-served by my resignation.
"Despite the smears and accusations from my political opponents, I will not stand down for having followed the Parliamentary authorities' guidance," she said.
(GC)
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