And end leg test for the web
Aug 12 2008 by Ray Dunn, Birmingham Mail
PRIME Minister Gordon Brown was today dealt a political double whammy as Wendy Alexander quit as Labour’s leader in the Scottish Parliament.
This is a test
Ms Alexander’s resignation came three days after Holyrood’s Standards Committee voted to recommend she be barred from Parliament for one day in the autumn for failing to promptly declare donations to her leadership campaign last “I acted in good faith upon the basis of written advice from the parliamentary authorities”, she said in a statement to TV cameras at Labour’s Scottish headquarters in Glasgow. She said she was the victim of a “partisan” decision by the Standards Committee and claimed there had been a “breach of natural justice”.
But she also said: “I judge this issue has become too much of a distraction from the real issues that should dominate our public life.” Gordon Brown, a close ally of Ms Alexander, thanked her for her work in “rebuilding” the Scottish Labour Party since the last elections as well as her commitment to devolution and her part in establishing the Scottish Parliament.
“Her dedication to social justice can never be doubted and her contribution - which has been outstanding over the years - will be greatly missed.” said the Prime Minister.
But SNP deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “While Wendy Alexander has been author of own misfortune, there can be no doubt that the information on her illegal campaign donation could only have come from within the inner circles of the Labour Party.
“For months, there has been an unanswered question in Scottish politics - who within Scottish Labour leaked the information which provoked the serious investigation, culminating in Wendy Alexander’s resignation?” Ms Alexander’s resignation was confirmed shortly after the other blow to Mr Brown emerged - the likely resignation of David Marshall, 67. for health reasons. Labour said he had “indicated” to local activists that he was planning to stand down with deteriorating health.
At the last election he had a majority over the SNP of 13,507 - but no Labour seat in Scotland can be viewed as safe after the shock of the 2006 Dunfermline and West Fife by election, where the Lib Dems overturned a majority of 11,500. Ms Alexander is standing down as leader of Labour in the Scottish Parliament but will remain an MSP.
Announcing her decision today, still hoarse from a throat infection, Ms Alexander said: “The process of successive SNP inspired complaints and investigations has been unrelenting and will continue into the autumn, almost a year after the initial complaint.
“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.”
Speaking on the day after her 45th birthday, Ms Alexander, who is the sister of international development minister Douglas Alexander, said it as clear that “vexatious” complaints would dominate headlines as long as she remained and went on: “I cannot ask Labour supporters in Scotland for further forbearance.”
Ms Alexander said Labour over the past year had made progress in renewing policies and reconnecting with voters while the SNP’s “broken promises, spending cuts, U-turns and policy failures” were becoming more apparent.
Cathy Jamieson, Labour’s deputy leader in Scotland, will take over in a caretaker role, and may also throw her hat into ring as a possible candidate to succeed her. Ms Jamieson said: “Ever since this process began, anybody who knows Wendy Alexander has not for one minute questioned her integrity.
“With this decision she has put the Scottish Parliament and the Labour party above her own personal interests.” She argued the affair had raised wider issues about the parliamentary process, saying Ms Alexander had followed the code of conduct, had sought advice from parliament and received “unambiguous” legal advice.
Holyrood’s Standards Commissioner, Dr Jim Dyer, had subsequently decided this advice was wrong and Ms Alexander had been “penalised” by the Standards Committee for following the advice of parliamentary authorities.
“This has profound implications for all MSPs,” said Ms Jamieson. “The procedure has been abused and manipulated for political ends. “The pursuers of Wendy Alexander have put partisan interest ahead of those of the parliament and wiser heads will question at what price.”
Ms Alexander’s departure will trigger a leadership election over the summer and into the autumn. Possible contenders include former Holyrood minister Andy Kerr, Margaret Curran and Iain Gray,
