MSPs vote against Alexander Holyrood ban
Friday, 05 Sep 2008 10:53
Former Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander saved from Holyrood ban by MSPs
MSPs have saved former Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander from a Holyrood ban after voting by 49 to 70 against the decision to bar her from the parliament.
Ms Alexander had originally been recommended for a one-day ban after the Scottish parliament's standards committee decided she broke rules by failing to declare party donations within the 30-day deadline.
The decision prompted Ms Alexander to resign as Labour leader.
She described yesterday's vote as "a victory for commons sense".
She continued: "Some will question why I resigned.
"I said in June I was not prepared to allow this matter to dominate over the summer. No-one can doubt it would have done so had I remained Labour leader in Scotland.
"I judged that not to be in the interests of either the Labour party or the country."