THE OFFICIAL list of donors to Wendy Alexander's election campaign suggests she was aware at least three weeks ago that a donation from tax exile Paul Green was legally suspect, the Sunday Herald can reveal.
WENDYGATE
| The donors | | Who gave to Wendy's campaign ... and the members of the team who brought in the cash |
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A secret list of financial contributors compiled in a computer document that lists the "author" as "Brian Ashcroft" - Alexander's husband - flagged up on November 5 that Green's donation might not have been legal.
This blows apart claims made by Alexander's campaign chief, Tom McCabe, that the first time either she or her lieutenants knew about a personal donation from Green was at 1pm on Thursday.
The list confirms a £950 donation had been made from Green, states his full Jersey address for the "purpose" of Electoral Commission registration, but questions its legality by stating: "Permissible?"
Days later, Alexander's campaign told the Electoral Commission that the donation had been made from a company called Combined Property Services, a claim that proved to be false.
The MSP who organised the donation, Charlie Gordon, resigned last week.
In another extraordinary development, the Sunday Herald can reveal an apparent attempt by the Alexander campaign to mislead the commission by "switching" the name of another individual listed as a donor.
The list names Moir Lockhead, the chief executive of transport giant First Group, in the "donor" section with a contribution of £995.
But in the column marked "Name/address for Elect Comm purpose", the name was switched to "John Lyons", the former Labour MP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden.
Lyons, after losing his seat in 2005, became a consultant for the transport company. The list states the money was "on way via John Lyons".
The political contact for this donation, according to the list, was "David", whom the Sunday Herald understands is David Whitton, the MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, and Alexander's election manager.
However, in a statement to the Sunday Herald, a spokesman for Lockhead said: "Moir has not supported Wendy Alexander's campaign. He was approached but said he wouldn't be supporting it."
John Lysons said he had been asked by David Whitton to approach Lockhead but had advised that it was certain Lockhead would not donate. Lyons said he did make a donation on his own behalf. He added that he knew nothing about the donors list.
Whitton, asked to comment last night about the revelations surrounding the donor list, Brian Ashcroft and Paul Green, said: "I think we have said all we are going to say about donations."
Asked about the apparent donation switch from Lockhead to Lyons, he said: "I've got no comment to make."
Ashcroft said: "I have nothing to say."
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