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SNP defends lunch auction prize Bosses probe SNP's lunch auction
(about 6 hours later)
The SNP has rejected criticism from opposition parties after an auction for a lunch date with the first minister raised £9,000 for the party. Scottish Parliament bosses are to look into whether Alex Salmond broke the rules by planning to host a lunch at Holyrood in return for party donations.
The meal for four, hosted by Alex Salmond, was sold at a party fundraising event earlier this week. Lunch dates with the first minister and deputy, Nicola Sturgeon, were auctioned for £9,000 and £2,000 respectively.
A similar lunch with Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon raised £2,000 at the auction on Tuesday. The SNP insisted no rules were broken, but has sought clarification.
Labour MP Des Browne described it as "cash for access" and said it demeaned the office of the first minister. Holyrood chiefs pointed out that resources were provided to support MSPs in their parliamentary duties, not "significant party political purposes".
The SNP said that parties had used lunches with politicians as a way of fundraising for "many years". The meal for four, to be hosted by Mr Salmond at the Holyrood restaurant, was sold at a party fundraising event to raise money for the Glasgow Central constituency - a seat the SNP is hoping to win from Labour at the next general election.
A spokeswoman added: "Lunch with parliamentarians has been a fundraising opportunity across the parties for many years, and is not contrary to any current parliamentary rules. Scottish ministers should not be available to the highest bidder Mike RumblesScottish Liberal Democrats
"An obvious requirement is that the MSPs concerned pay for the lunch, which takes place in a public space. And all donations to the SNP are publicly declared in the normal way." Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said there were serious questions to be answered, including who bought the lunches and if advice was sought from the parliament before the auction.
Mr Salmond must make a public statement about why he allowed himself to be placed in such an exceedingly unwise position Des BrowneLabour Mr Gray said: "Was it wrong of the first minister to auction lunch with himself in Holyrood to raise £9,000 for the SNP? Such grubby behaviour demeans the office."
She also insisted the practice was "not contrary to any current parliamentary rules". A Scottish Parliament spokesman said Holyrood's management team, the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body, would establish the facts of the case and consider a report on the issue.
The lunches are due to take place at the Scottish Parliament restaurant, with the money raised going to the party's campaign fund for the Glasgow Central seat, which they are hoping to win from Labour at the forthcoming general election. The spokesman added: "The policy on the use of parliamentary resources states that parliamentary resources are provided by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body to support members with their parliamentary duties.
Former Scottish Secretary Mr Browne said: "Mr Salmond's parliamentary duties do not extend to using the Scottish Parliament's restaurant to raise money for his election candidates. "These resources, which include the members' restaurant, must not be used for any other purpose, including any significant party political purposes."
"This is industrial scale fundraising using parliamentary facilities." 'Ill advised'
The Labour MP demanded: "Mr Salmond must make a public statement about why he allowed himself to be placed in such an exceedingly unwise position." In a letter from Mr Salmond to Scottish Parliament chief executive Paul Grice, he stated on the use of resources: "My view would be that this does not include the dining facilities that are paid for, as opposed to the parliament resources, which are provided.
In 2007 Tory leader David Cameron was rebuked by the parliamentary standards watchdog for using his tax-payer funded Commons office to raise money for the Conservative Party. "If this is the case, then there would be no bar against having a lunch in the manner described."
'Parliamentary rules' The first minister's letter continued: "There is also the question of whether a lunch in itself constitutes a 'significant party political purpose', as opposed to the auction, which took place elsewhere."
The Commons Committee on Standards and Privileges said at the time that Mr Cameron had been "ill advised" to offer meetings at the his office for members of a Conservative fundraising club. In 2007, Tory leader David Cameron was rebuked by the parliamentary standards watchdog for using his tax-payer funded Commons office to raise money for the Conservative Party.
Prospective members of the Leader's Group were promised lunch in Mr Cameron's parliamentary office after Prime Minister's Questions in return for a £50,000 subscription fee. The Commons Committee on Standards and Privileges said Mr Cameron had been "ill advised" to offer meetings at his office for members of a Conservative fundraising club.
The Tory leader apologised "unreservedly" for breaking the MPs' code of conduct, and also promised no further lunches would be held in his office for members of the group. The SNP said this case referred to the use of a private parliamentary office, rather than the House of Commons dining rooms.
Mike Rumbles said: "Scottish ministers should not be available to the highest bidder. Scottish Liberal Democrat chief whip Mike Rumbles, said: "Scottish ministers should not be available to the highest bidder.
"I'd have thought that Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon would have learned from David Cameron's cash for access scandal.""I'd have thought that Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon would have learned from David Cameron's cash for access scandal."
The Liberal Democrat MSP added: "We've worked hard in the Scottish Parliament to be as open and transparent as possible and we look to our most senior ministers to set an example."