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Wendy faces suspension



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Published Date: 26 June 2008
SCOTTISH Labour leader Wendy Alexander was today facing possible suspension from the Scottish Parliament after the Holyrood standards committee ruled she had breached the rules by not declaring donations to her leadership campaign.
The committee was meeting today to decide what action to take. But independent Lothians MSP Margo MacDonald spoke out in defence of Ms Alexander.

Ms MacDonald said: "Wendy Alexander did what all of us are advised to do: when in doubt, ask the parliamentary authorities."





The full article contains 81 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 26 June 2008 10:16 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Scottish Labour Party
 
1

ComedyPolitician,

Edinburgh 26/06/2008 12:54:42
Strange that we only have 3 small paragraphs for this story but a huge amount of writing on the SNP. I find that this paper is an absolute joke when it comes to its stance on poltics journalism. The Herald is much better but this comment will probably be removed as i can't say that a Glasgow paper is better than an Edinburgh one. Even if it is. The Scotsman is about as impartial on politics as the Daily Ranger is on sport!!
2

Curious Yellow,

Edinburgh 26/06/2008 13:09:28
I generally have little time for politicians, but this is getting way too out of hand. So what? Wendy should have declared the donations at the outset, but she ASKED FOR THE ADVICE OF THE PARLIAMENT CLERKS. It later transpired that the advice was wrong - so now she's the one at fault? If the Parliament goes down the route of disciplining her, in whatevere way, then they must also take action against their own staff, who clearly don't know the rules.
3

steve 1511,

aberdeen 26/06/2008 13:21:16
wee wendy asked for advice after the time limit had passed for one of her brown envelope bungs,just like buying a tv license after you know you are caught,or saying you were on your way to buy car insurance when you are stopped,she brings shame to holyrood with her and her labour party msp behaviour,caught red handed despite the constant denials
4

Edward,

26/06/2008 13:24:04
#2 Curious Yellow
Actually Wendy Alexander received donations in August, including one from the Jersey business man
She only made an attept to clarify in November. What is not being shown here is that MSP's have 30 days to declare, she went way over this. Not only that she took a donation from someone in Jersey, which she knows full well is illegal. She claims that as soon as she received it she returned the cheque, again this is a blatant lie as in subsequent interviews with the businessman, he denied getting the cheque back!
Its also clear that dontaions shold not be solicited from overseas, including Jersey, yet Wendy Alexander who was directly involved made all the running to solicit from the Jersey businessman
Her line of defence that she was given wrong information from Parliament is also questionable as staff dont have any record of this
She is without doubt guilty and should b suspended
5

Merouane,

Edinburgh 26/06/2008 13:26:28
#1. Spot on. This paper has zero credibility when writing on these matters.

#2. Was it not the case, that the deadline to declare these donations had already passed by the time she asked for advice? So even if she had been given the appropriate advice, she would have breached the rules. Despite that, I don't think suspension is appropriate for this offence, but I do think she has been let off easily for other misdemeanours, so it might be appropriate if she is treated harshly in this instance.
6

Alternative (High-Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 26/06/2008 13:45:57
Damn! No photo!
7

The Spook in Leith,

26/06/2008 15:14:24
Whats the point on commenting on this article ? It will only get pulled sooner or later like it did yesterday. Remember we have labour list msps scanning those forums and if they do not like what they read then they phone up the Scotsman and threaten the news paper for libo..Democracy at its best..
8

 Ayrshire Scot™,

26/06/2008 18:21:49
2. Wrong - she asked for advice on whether to declare the donations, AFTER the LEGAL deadline to declare cash gifts had already passed.

Odd that Wendy and Labour precisely understood the small print of donation law that requires donations about £1000 to identify the donor, but weirdly missed the basic need to register cash gifts....

Pathetic that a party leader now faces suspensionm from parliament for illegal actions involving sleazy donations.
9

 Ayrshire Scot™,

26/06/2008 18:22:44
8. Spook - indeed, iondolent Labour MSPs with nothing better to do than solicit illegal donations, try to cover up illegal donations and phone up the Scotsman... what a sleazy disgrace Labour are
10

The Former Mr. Angry,

Perth 26/06/2008 19:19:40
She only faces suspension - parliament have still to approve the decision and they start on the summer recess tomorrow! You couldn't make it up. Just like Brown's delayed taxes now we get delayed punishment for an act which was clearly in breach of Parliamentary rules. The £999s clearly show they know what they're doing in the slightly dodgy department but it's a pity that even with a £180,000 sum to educate MP's/MSPs on these things that they still got it wrong and they're the ones who produce the legislation in the first place! Wendy Alexander just has to get real and stop pretending she's squeaky clean in this area.
11

 Ayrshire Scot™,

26/06/2008 19:22:20
12. The £180,000 was the sum of public cash claimed by the Labour party to educate its staff on the laws and rules ..,... as you note, clearly they understood the fine print enought to avoid donor registration but claim ignorance relating to a very clear and simple requirement to register cash gifts....

What a sleazy disgrace
12

lulach mac gille coemgain,

26/06/2008 19:39:37
‘ruled she had breached the rules’

Remember in the auld days when wimen breached the rules ?

Duck her in the pond three times - if she dies then she was a good ’un if she lives - Burn the Witch !

Aren’t Labour tryin’ to return to these values - 42 days detention for Political deceivers whilst under investigation - then to the duck pond for trial - That’s what I say !
13

Matt there,

somewhere 27/06/2008 00:14:01
Poor Wendy! These are her automatic defences!

1) Is wasn't MY fault!
2) I thought someone else would report the donations to me.
3) I can't remember.
4) It must have been the fault of someone else!
5) I thought I had submitted the paperwork, but it turns out to have been eaten by a very hungry caterpillar.
14

KampungHighlander,

Jakarta 27/06/2008 02:50:11
Three sentences devouted to Wendy the weasels dodgy donations scandal.

Thirty sentences devouted to whipping up an Islamaphobic backlash to Alex Salmond.

Fishrap, utter Fishrap.

The only good thing about the Scotsman is the readers comments, the journalism and editorial quality is worst on the planet, except for maybe the Harare Herald.

 

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