This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7232516.stm

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Alexander cleared over donations Alexander cleared over donations
(20 minutes later)
Election watchdogs have cleared Wendy Alexander of wrongdoing after her Scottish Labour leadership campaign received an illegal donation. Wendy Alexander will not be reported to prosecutors after her Scottish Labour leadership campaign received an illegal donation, an election watchdog said.
The Electoral Commission has decided not to make a report to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. The Electoral Commission said there was not sufficient evidence to prove an offence had been committed.
Labour MSP Charlie Gordon sought the £950 from Jersey-based developer Paul Green, which broke electoral law.Labour MSP Charlie Gordon sought the £950 from Jersey-based developer Paul Green, which broke electoral law.
The commission said Ms Alexander did not take all reasonable steps to comply with the law. The commission said Ms Alexander did not take all reasonable steps to comply with legislation.
But it said that she had taken "significant" steps. However, it said that she had taken "significant" steps.
In a statement, the Electoral Commission said it was "not in the public interest" to report to prosecutors on the issue of whether accepting the donation was an offence. Ms Alexander's campaign team earlier admitted the donation broke the law, but the Scottish Labour leader has always insisted there was no "intentional" wrongdoing.
Watchdog warningWatchdog warning
It also ruled there was no evidence to establish that Ms Alexander's campaign team had sought to conceal or give false information surrounding the donation.
There will be a separate report on Mr Gordon's role, but that is not expected to emerge on Thursday.There will be a separate report on Mr Gordon's role, but that is not expected to emerge on Thursday.
The Electoral Commission said it was "not in the public interest" to report to prosecutors on the issue of whether accepting the donation was an offence.
It also ruled there was no evidence to establish that Ms Alexander's campaign team had sought to conceal or give false information surrounding the donation.
"The conclusions reached by the commission are the result of its independent judgment, following a thorough investigation," said the commission's statement."The conclusions reached by the commission are the result of its independent judgment, following a thorough investigation," said the commission's statement.
"Extraneous considerations such as political or public opinion have played no part in this process, nor have they played any part in the commission's decision-making.""Extraneous considerations such as political or public opinion have played no part in this process, nor have they played any part in the commission's decision-making."
The watchdog also warned in its findings: "Those standing for party office or, as a members of a campaign team, soliciting or handling donations, have a responsibility to ensure that they understand the requirements of the [Political Parties, Elections and Referendums] Act and the commission's published guidance."
The donation from Mr Green broke electoral law because he is not a UK voter.The donation from Mr Green broke electoral law because he is not a UK voter.
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Murdo Fraser said the donation issue was "the least of Labour's worries", claiming that the party's involvement the Scottish Government's budget, passed on Wednesday, was "a complete and dismal failure".