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Alexander makes long-term promise Alexander says she's a perfect 10
(about 1 hour later)
Scottish Labour's Wendy Alexander said she was "relishing" the prospect of her first conference as party leader. Wendy Alexander has given herself a perfect score in her performance as Scottish Labour leader.
She told the BBC Scotland news website that she was "in it" for the long haul, not short-term popularity. She awarded herself a "10 out of 10", while saying it was time to move on from the donation scandal which hit her leadership campaign.
The three-day gathering in Aviemore begins on Friday and will include motions and debates, plus a keynote speech by Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Ms Alexander was speaking during a BBC Scotland webcast at the Scottish Labour conference in Aviemore.
He is expected to urge the party to turn the attack upon the Scottish National Party. It is her first conference since the party lost power at the Holyrood and she gained the leadership.
The Nationalists took over the reins of government when they beat the Labour Party by one seat at last May's Holyrood election. During the web chat, driven by questions from BBC viewers, listeners and online users, she was asked to score herself out of 10 for her performance since being elected leader unopposed in September last year.
Before the start of the conference, Ms Alexander attacked the SNP and said the people of Scotland wanted to see their politicians governing and not grandstanding as "Alex Salmond does every week in the chamber". The truth is that every time anyone declares late or sends back an impermissible donation, as we did, then they are breaking the law, every political party has done it many, many, many times Wendy AlexanderScottish Labour leader
This is about Scotland's future - the kind of Scotland we want our children to grow up in - the kind of values I came into politics for Wendy AlexanderScottish Labour leader "Rising all the time, I think is the answer," said Ms Alexander, adding: "Ten out of 10, 10 out of 10."
She added: "I've only been in the job for six months, in that six months I have put social justice back at the heart of Labour's agenda in the Scottish Parliament - standing up for the disadvantaged such as nursery places for vulnerable two-year-olds and £34m for children with disabilities. Ms Alexander has had a turbulent time since taking the reins of her party.
"I've put skills and modern apprenticeships back on the political agenda and set the agenda on cross-party and parliamentary agreement on devolution 10 years on. Soon after taking over it emerged that her leadership campaign received a £950 donation - illegal because it came from jersey-based businessman Paul Green, who is not a UK voter.
"We have to address the issues that matter and I am sure that's what you'll see Labour do this weekend." Asked in the webcast if she was a crook, the Paisley North MSP replied: "I have said all along a mistake was made, £950 was accepted by one of my campaign team, it shouldn't have been - it was handed back.
On Friday morning, Ms Alexander took part in a BBC Scotland webcast hosted by political editor Brian Taylor. "The Electoral Commission looked into it and I think it is time to move on."
'Working hard' Ms Alexander said she deeply regretted what happened, adding: "The truth is that every time anyone declares late or sends back an impermissible donation, as we did, then they are breaking the law, every political party has done it many, many, many times."
The live half-hour stream featured questions from online users. Brown speech
Ms Alexander had previously admitted that her party must offer radical change to regain the trust of voters. The Scottish Labour leader is in Aviemore for the three-day conference gathering.
Those changes will be central to conference debates over the weekend. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is due to deliver a keynote speech in which he is expected to urge the party to turn the attack upon the Scottish National Party.
She added: "Labour will be listening and working hard for the people of Scotland. The Nationalists took over the reins of government when they beat Labour by one seat at last May's Holyrood election.
Gordon Brown is likely to say that the SNP is holding back Scotland
"Labour is dedicated to changing people's lives for the better - at Westminster, the Scottish Parliament and council chambers across the country.
"I have never underestimated the job or the challenges Labour in Scotland faces.
"I'm in it for the long haul, the long game - not for short term popularity.
"This is about Scotland's future - the kind of Scotland we want our children to grow up in - the kind of values I came into politics for.
"The conference at Aviemore is a chance to tell Scotland about Labour's vision for a better Scotland and better life chances for all Scots."
Mr Brown will address delegates on Friday afternoon and he will say that only Labour values can equip Scotland to thrive in the globalised economy.Mr Brown will address delegates on Friday afternoon and he will say that only Labour values can equip Scotland to thrive in the globalised economy.
He will argue that policies being pursued by SNP ministers threaten prosperity.He will argue that policies being pursued by SNP ministers threaten prosperity.
In particular, he will claim that the Nationalist administration is set to inflict cuts in education which will damage Scotland's capacity for economic growth.In particular, he will claim that the Nationalist administration is set to inflict cuts in education which will damage Scotland's capacity for economic growth.