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Alexander quits as Labour leader Alexander quits as Labour leader
(20 minutes later)
Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander has announced she is standing down. Wendy Alexander has quit as Scottish Labour leader amid the row over donations to her leadership campaign.
She said it was with "deep regret" that she was resigning following the decision of the Scottish Parliament's standards committee. Holyrood's standards committee said she should be banned from parliament for a day after failing to declare the cash on her MSP's register of interests.
Ms Alexander has come under pressure after breaking donation rules and faces a one-day ban from parliament. Ms Alexander said she was resigning with "deep regret" and branded the committee's decision "partisan".
She said the breach of the rules was made in "good faith" and the decision of the committee was "partisan" but she respected parliamentary process. The Paisley North MSP said the row had become a distraction from other important issues facing Scotland.
The Scottish Parliament's standards committee ruled that she failed to declare donations to her leadership campaign on her register of interests and recommended that she be banned from Holyrood for one day - a move MSPs will have to vote on after the summer recess in September. Ms Alexander, who will stay on as an MSP, had said clerks to the standards committee wrongly told her it was unnecessary to declare donations.
Ms Alexander, who will stay on as MSP for Paisley North, had said clerks to the standards committee wrongly told her it was unnecessary to declare donations.
It is clear that vexatious complaints will continue to dominate the headlines as long as I remain Labour's Scottish Parliamentary Leader Wendy AlexanderIt is clear that vexatious complaints will continue to dominate the headlines as long as I remain Labour's Scottish Parliamentary Leader Wendy Alexander
She later updated her register with details of the donors, who each gave about £1,000 to her campaign, after the Scottish parliamentary standards commissioner, Dr Jim Dyer, decided the donations should be treated as gifts.She later updated her register with details of the donors, who each gave about £1,000 to her campaign, after the Scottish parliamentary standards commissioner, Dr Jim Dyer, decided the donations should be treated as gifts.
Speaking at Scottish Labour's headquarters in Glasgow, Ms Alexander said the row had become too much of a distraction from the issues which should be dominating public life. MSPs will be asked to vote on the ban after the summer recess, in September.
"My pursuers have sought the prize of political victory with little thought to the standing of the parliament," she said. Speaking at Scottish Labour's headquarters in Glasgow, Ms Alexander said: "My pursuers have sought the prize of political victory with little thought to the standing of the parliament."
"Some may feel they have achieved a political victory but wiser heads will surely question 'at what price?'""Some may feel they have achieved a political victory but wiser heads will surely question 'at what price?'"
Ms Alexander added: "It is clear that vexatious complaints will continue to dominate the headlines as long as I remain Labour's Scottish Parliamentary Leader.Ms Alexander added: "It is clear that vexatious complaints will continue to dominate the headlines as long as I remain Labour's Scottish Parliamentary Leader.
"I cannot ask Labour supporters in Scotland for further forbearance.""I cannot ask Labour supporters in Scotland for further forbearance."
Scottish Labour's deputy leader, Cathy Jamieson, has taken charge ahead of a leadership contest. Scottish Labour's deputy leader Cathy Jamieson has taken charge ahead of a leadership contest.
The committee ruling was the latest development in the saga of donations to Ms Alexander's leadership campaign.The committee ruling was the latest development in the saga of donations to Ms Alexander's leadership campaign.
In a separate development, she earlier expressed "deep regret" that her team accepted an illegal £950 donation from Jersey-based businessman Paul Green.In a separate development, she earlier expressed "deep regret" that her team accepted an illegal £950 donation from Jersey-based businessman Paul Green.
The Electoral Commission found there was not sufficient evidence in that case to prove an offence and did not report her to prosecutors.