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Brian Taylor | 15:26 UK time, Friday, 30 November 2007

And yet more. Paul Green is not happy.

He鈥檚 the Jersey-based businessman whose donation to Team Alexander has caused the current row.

He says he gave 拢950 (that sum again) to Glasgow South Labour Party without any fuss.

More, he received a personal thank you letter from Wendy Alexander for his donation to her campaign.

He cannot understand, he says, why Labour are maintaining this was a corporate donation when he received a letter, addressed to him personally, at his Jersey address.

Charlie Gordon MSP says the Glasgow South donation was also a mistake. He says it will also be returned.

Mr Gordon says he acted in good faith on both occasions.

To be precise, his statement says he acted 鈥渋n goof faith鈥. But let鈥檚 not quibble over a letter. Or rather...

Comments

  • 1.
  • At 04:23 PM on 30 Nov 2007,
  • Malcolm wrote:

This letter to Paul Green proves that Wendy Alexander knew that this donation was made on a personal basis.

As a consequence we now know that this illegal donation was solicited by Charlie Gordon, accepted by David Whitton and acknowledged by Wendy Alexander.

I'm afraid Wendy Alexander's position is untenable. She has to stand down for the sake of her own party.

  • 2.
  • At 04:23 PM on 30 Nov 2007,
  • Euromac, Brussels wrote:

Brian

Nigel Farage made the valid point on Question Time last night that donations which are illegal - which this one was - are not the Labour Party's to return - they are in fact forfeit.

Will someone press the Labour Party on this issue - it was their idea...

  • 3.
  • At 04:45 PM on 30 Nov 2007,
  • Graeme wrote:

Now I know whose word I'll take as being the truth and it ain't Labour! It seems the party has gone into free fall since losing it's majority in Scotland for the first time in 50 years. Could this all lead to votes of no confidence in England and Scotland and lead to snap elections? I think at the next elections Labour will fall to the way side, unless by some miracle Glasgow decide to vote for them again... and again... and again...

  • 4.
  • At 05:17 PM on 30 Nov 2007,
  • Pendragon wrote:

Ms Alexander says that She regrets accepting the donation.Of course what she really regrets,like any Politician having been caught doing something they shouldnt have done, is that it has been discovered,and an even deeper regret for Her,is that it may cost Her career.

  • 5.
  • At 05:27 PM on 30 Nov 2007,
  • David MacDonald wrote:

Wow. Even my children are talking about this story.

Thanks Wendy, you have achieved what I've trying for ages to develop: an interest in politics and current affairs.

On the other hand, you wouldn't want to hear what they are saying about you,,, and I fear that you have confirmed their belief that politicians just aren't to be trusted.


  • 6.
  • At 05:31 PM on 30 Nov 2007,
  • G Ford wrote:

Hi Brian. Re the last comment. I find your comments are always polite (very rare in this day and age) and pretty impartial. Sadly the same cannot be said for the 大象传媒 in general and "Labour Luvvie,s" Reporting Scotland in particular. I dont think this story is going to go away.

  • 7.
  • At 05:47 PM on 30 Nov 2007,
  • Mac wrote:

If Wendy is sending a thank you letter to Jersey should that not have set off alarm bells. Taxi for Ms Alexander!

  • 8.
  • At 05:56 PM on 30 Nov 2007,
  • Peter, Fife wrote:

It looks like Wednesday's jacket is on a shaky nail; perhaps sooner rather than later would be the time to answer more fully these allegations, before the alligator (sic) bites deeper with further revelations.

  • 9.
  • At 07:29 PM on 30 Nov 2007,
  • Brian wrote:

Brian, your blog is bang on, ten out of ten. It appears that it just gets worse and worse for Wailing Wendy.

Now I have been accused of being a bit thick by some so perhaps greater minds than mine can explain it to me.

A donation is listed on the books as coming from a UK company in accordance with the rules regarding donations. All campaign officials, including the Treasurer who deposited the cheque and kept the books, the campaign manager who oversees the campaign and the candidate herself claim publicly that the cheque was received from the company in good faith. They further indicate that this was a one time error caused by false assumptions made by Charles Gordon.

So how is it that a second donation from the same person to the same party has now been confirmed by the donor himself and no one seems to be the wiser? Did it come from the same UK company?

And most importantly, and to me this is the most confusing bit, if everyone believed what Charles Gordon told them about the donation coming from the UK company in Glasgow, WHY DID WENDY ALEXANDER SEND A PERSONAL LETTER OF THANKS TO A MR. GREEN IN JERSEY FOR HIS DONATION TO THE LEADERSHIP CAMPAIGN?

This appears not to be a smoking gun, but a smoking cannon. Wendy Aleander mustt explain why she sent the letter to Mr. Green and not to the UK company in Glasgow who the campaign claimed made the donation?

  • 10.
  • At 08:50 PM on 30 Nov 2007,
  • Craig M wrote:

Well I did predict that Wendy only got the leadership job because her Scottish Labour collegues wanted to see her crash and burn, what I didn't expect was the whole sorry lot of them would go up in flames with her. Time to go Wendy your credibility is blown.

  • 11.
  • At 10:18 PM on 30 Nov 2007,
  • Mike B wrote:

I realise that this story is all about principles and the regulations surrounding political donations - but seriously, give it a rest.

A possible billion pound investment in the North East about to disappear down the drain due to some amateur councilling and all the SNP care about is 拢950 and getting shot of Wendy Alexander - shows where their priorities lie...

  • 12.
  • At 10:36 PM on 30 Nov 2007,
  • Bob wrote:

Good grief-this is an absolute disgrace.

No wonder Eck Salmond is maintaining a dignified silence.It doesn't take much to demolish that rotten Labour shower.

Close the door on your way out Bendy!

  • 13.
  • At 11:26 PM on 30 Nov 2007,
  • Peter Forsyth wrote:

In reply to mike B the reason the north east is about to lose the Trump project is because the mostly Lib Dem committee voted against it, if you want to attack the SNP then do so but at least get your facts straight.

  • 14.
  • At 07:30 AM on 01 Dec 2007,
  • Chasa wrote:

I am fed up hearing the phrase "In good faith", try that on a Monday morning in front of the Sherrif and you will find out rapidly how acceptable an excuse it is. This lot broke the law and they should now pay the price.

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