Mark Pack

Is a Labour MSP about to quit over donor scandals?

By | Wed 5th December 2007 - 8:23 am

Rumours abound that Labour MSP Charlie Gordon may be about to quit over the Wendy Alexander Scottish Labour leadership campaign’s illegal donation.

As the Daily Record reports:

LEADING Labour MSP Charlie Gordon looks set to quit Holyrood after the devastating revelations about illegal donations in yesterday’s Daily Record.

He will make a statement about his “political future” this week.

That fuelled speculation he is poised to quit Holyrood.

As he arrived for a crunch meeting of Labour MSPs yesterday, all Gordon would say was: “I’ll make an announcement about my political future later this week.”

His comments came after the Record revealed Gordon secured illegal donations from tax-exile tycoon Paul Green – despite being told two years ago he could not do so.

And the pressure on him mounted when Green himself said the MSP’s explanations were “a mystery” to him.

Meanwhile, photographers’ favourite Cabinet minister, James Purnell, has landed himself in a minor spot of hot water after it turned out he didn’t tell the truth on the radio at the weekend. Talking about the £650,000 in illegal donations from David Abrahams he said, “We’ve given the money back.”

One slight problem: Labour hasn’t. Oh dear James.

Although the Labour Party is in severe financial difficulties, there is also another problem with paying back the money. It’s not clear who Labour should repay it to: the intermediaries, David Abrahams himself or the Treasury (to whom impermissible donations are normally forfeited). Personally, I think they could play it safe and pay £650,000 to all three…

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One Comment

  • Simon 5th Dec '07 - 10:06am

    I think the law is quite clear if the donation is impermissable after the period specified for checking the legitimacy of the donation any repayment is to the ‘Consolidated Fund’ (i.e. the governments bank account).

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