No more Labour resignations, says Browne Scottish secretary claims that party colleagues 'all acted honestly' NO MORE high-profile Labour politicians will have to resign over the current donations row, Scottish secretary Des Browne has claimed.
Despite revelations that yet another candidate for the deputy Labour leadership had apparently wrongly accepted a donation of £3000, the Kilmarnock and Loudoun MP also does not expect any more of his colleagues to be reported to the police over the issue.
His prediction comes after Peter Hain quit the Cabinet last week after the Electoral Commission, investigating him over more than £100,000 of undeclared donations, passed his case to the police.
Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander is also facing an Electoral Commission probe after her campaign team accepted an illegal donation during her party leadership campaign.
Browne, who is also the defence secretary, will tell BBC Scotland's Politics show today in a pre-recorded interview that he doesn't expect any more resignations over the issue.
"I am not anticipating that anyone else will be reported to the police," he will say. "What I am saying to you is, the people who have been involved in this, in my view, have all acted honestly.
"These are all decent people. Peter Hain is a good man, very good politician, a valued colleague of mine.
"I am absolutely satisfied that he will be able to clear his name in relation to this, when he is given the space and time to do it, and that's why he's resigned from the government.
"I don't expect that any of the rest of my colleagues will need to resign from any positions that they are in."
Hain has always maintained that his undeclared donations were down to an innocent mistake.
A Jersey businessman, Paul Green, gave £950 to Alexander's campaign after an approach from her team, in what her supporters later conceded was a breach of the law requiring donations to be from UK-based voters or companies.
Labour colleague Jackie Baillie said she was "very confident" that Alexander would be cleared of any intentional wrongdoing and should not resign even if the commission ruled against her.
SNP MSP Roseanna Cunningham said: "Labour appears to be putting itself not just above the law but ahead of the law. Des Browne and the Labour Party must have an inside track to the Electoral Commission, otherwise his pronouncements may be premature.
"If Wendy Alexander and her campaign team are going to get away with what they admit was breaking the law, the Electoral Commission should be open about it."
However, Gordon Brown's donations nightmare deepened further last night as another of his Cabinet ministers was accused of accepting cash through a proxy.
Newspaper reports claimed that immigrant Waseem Siddiqui was used to channel more than £3000 to Alan Johnson's failed campaign to become deputy Labour leader. However, the 50-year-old said he did not know who the health secretary was, and his brother - a Labour official - had asked him to write a blank cheque. Siddiqui is said to be a Pakistani who has been living in Croydon, Surrey, on a student visa for the past three years. He claimed his brother Ahmed Yar Mohammed - the treasurer of Croydon Central Labour Party - asked him to
write the cheque for £3334, then gave him the money.
A statement from Johnson's campaign denied any deliberate wrongdoing. "We had no reason to believe the donation came from anyone other than (Mr Siddiqui)," it said.
"We checked he was a member of the Labour Party and was on the electoral register and we registered the donation with the Labour Party, the register of members' interests and the Electoral Commission."
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Posted by: Saul Tyre, germany on 10:07pm Sat 26 Jan 08
If Des Browne says it, it must be true.
Probably.
If Des Browne says it, it must be true.
Probably.
Posted by: The West Awake, Argyll on 10:29pm Sat 26 Jan 08
"He claimed his brother Ahmed Yar Mohammed - the treasurer of Croydon Central Labour Party - asked him to write the cheque for £3334, then gave him the money."
So....let me get this straight. This Labour Party member and employee was so desperate to give the Labour Party (his employers) his own money he went to these extraordinary measures to do so and to hide it as well? And no-one else was involved?
Now if Nichol Stephen can't smell a "stench of sleaze" here then we must surely question his "objectivity"
Lets just wait and see how Nichols nose copes with this one, eh?
Happy days.
"He claimed his brother Ahmed Yar Mohammed - the treasurer of Croydon Central Labour Party - asked him to write the cheque for £3334, then gave him the money."
So....let me get this straight. This Labour Party member and employee was so desperate to give the Labour Party (his employers) his own money he went to these extraordinary measures to do so and to hide it as well? And no-one else was involved?
Now if Nichol Stephen can't smell a "stench of sleaze" here then we must surely question his "objectivity"
Lets just wait and see how Nichols nose copes with this one, eh?
Happy days.
Posted by: Alex, Scotland on 10:54pm Sat 26 Jan 08
The part-time Scottish Secretary says " blah, blah, blah"
The part-time MOD Secretary says " blah,blah, blah".
So that's all right then?
The part-time Scottish Secretary says " blah, blah, blah"
The part-time MOD Secretary says " blah,blah, blah".
So that's all right then?
Posted by: I'm no really here on 11:17pm Sat 26 Jan 08
It's too late to tell Santa what you want for Christmas Mr Browne.
It's too late to tell Santa what you want for Christmas Mr Browne.
Posted by: steve thomas on 11:22pm Sat 26 Jan 08
Browne also said devolution was an event
but
events (inc wendy) contradicted him
same again ?
Browne also said devolution was an event
but
events (inc wendy) contradicted him
same again ?
Posted by: doonhamer on 11:25pm Sat 26 Jan 08
everyone acted properly... well, thank you Des, that makes me feel better.
No need for any further investigation.
To quote Wendy, "We should let the Electoral Commission do its job"
Des, didn't you get the memo?
everyone acted properly... well, thank you Des, that makes me feel better.
No need for any further investigation.
To quote Wendy, "We should let the Electoral Commission do its job"
Des, didn't you get the memo?
Posted by: Colin B, Bearsden on 12:35am Sun 27 Jan 08
Des Browne is an admitted liar- he started the "not intentionally lied" defence ( he is solicitor ) when he mislead the House of Parliament over forces pay - he lied over sailors stories, he lied over the cockpit video-he thinks apologising makes it better.
He is only in Cabinet to make Ruth Kelly and Douglas Alexander look effective.
Des Browne is an admitted liar- he started the "not intentionally lied" defence ( he is solicitor ) when he mislead the House of Parliament over forces pay - he lied over sailors stories, he lied over the cockpit video-he thinks apologising makes it better.
He is only in Cabinet to make Ruth Kelly and Douglas Alexander look effective.
Posted by: Clare, Lanarkshire on 12:55am Sun 27 Jan 08
I would encourage people to contact the Electoral Commission direct regarding this article today and challenge them on it. Des Browne has possibly been told Wendy is going to be cleared or he is attempting to undermine their inquiry or he is trying to tell them what to do. Which is it?
I would encourage people to contact the Electoral Commission direct regarding this article today and challenge them on it. Des Browne has possibly been told Wendy is going to be cleared or he is attempting to undermine their inquiry or he is trying to tell them what to do. Which is it?
Posted by: Archie, Scotland on 1:27am Sun 27 Jan 08
Clare, Mr Browne and most of his New Labour friends are in a state of utter shock, fright, alarm, fear, etc , etc. Do not believe anything Browne or other Ministers say. Particularly at present, they are all like chickens who have lost their heads and are running around the kitchen, bleeding to death not knowing where to run and hide. I, for one, deeply regret the state this country has got into under this so called Labour government. 'Things can only get better'? Dear heavens above, little did we know in 1997 it would come to this.
Clare, Mr Browne and most of his New Labour friends are in a state of utter shock, fright, alarm, fear, etc , etc. Do not believe anything Browne or other Ministers say. Particularly at present, they are all like chickens who have lost their heads and are running around the kitchen, bleeding to death not knowing where to run and hide. I, for one, deeply regret the state this country has got into under this so called Labour government. 'Things can only get better'? Dear heavens above, little did we know in 1997 it would come to this.
Posted by: Tired of excuses, Galashiels on 1:31am Sun 27 Jan 08
So much for Wendy bleating "Let the EC act without political pressure".
Labour colleague scuppered that one then.
Not really sure why Des Browne took time off to make this statement or what relevance he has in Holyrood anyway.
So much for Wendy bleating "Let the EC act without political pressure".
Labour colleague scuppered that one then.
Not really sure why Des Browne took time off to make this statement or what relevance he has in Holyrood anyway.
Posted by: Clare, Lanarkshire on 1:52am Sun 27 Jan 08
[quote][bold]Archie[/bold] wrote:
Clare, Mr Browne and most of his New Labour friends are in a state of utter shock, fright, alarm, fear, etc , etc. Do not believe anything Browne or other Ministers say. Particularly at present, they are all like chickens who have lost their heads and are running around the kitchen, bleeding to death not knowing where to run and hide. I, for one, deeply regret the state this country has got into under this so called Labour government. 'Things can only get better'? Dear heavens above, little did we know in 1997 it would come to this. [/quote] Archie I know but we should still keep the pressure on the Commission. Does no harm. And it makes them aware that plenty of people, ordinary people, are watching.
Archie wrote:
Clare, Mr Browne and most of his New Labour friends are in a state of utter shock, fright, alarm, fear, etc , etc. Do not believe anything Browne or other Ministers say. Particularly at present, they are all like chickens who have lost their heads and are running around the kitchen, bleeding to death not knowing where to run and hide. I, for one, deeply regret the state this country has got into under this so called Labour government. 'Things can only get better'? Dear heavens above, little did we know in 1997 it would come to this.
Archie I know but we should still keep the pressure on the Commission. Does no harm. And it makes them aware that plenty of people, ordinary people, are watching.
Posted by: David Ferguson, Roon at Flabskin's bit on 1:54am Sun 27 Jan 08
"... the people who have been involved in this, in my view, have all acted honestly."
Good. I just hope that some jornalistic genius will ask Mr Browne who it was that 'honestly' filled in the Donor Registration Form that was submitted to the Electoral Commission, and how they 'honestly' managed to write 'Combined Property Services' - a company that had no involvement whatsoever in the Alexander campaign - instead of 'Paul Green'.
"... the people who have been involved in this, in my view, have all acted honestly."
Good. I just hope that some jornalistic genius will ask Mr Browne who it was that 'honestly' filled in the Donor Registration Form that was submitted to the Electoral Commission, and how they 'honestly' managed to write 'Combined Property Services' - a company that had no involvement whatsoever in the Alexander campaign - instead of 'Paul Green'.
Posted by: Guga, Rockall on 2:12am Sun 27 Jan 08
How can someone in this country on a student visa (Waseem Siddiqui) get themselves on the electoral register? Isn't that fraud? Are the police and the immigration authorities investigating this matter? If not, why not?
As for our part time Scottish Secretary, and part time Defence Secretary, Browne, how does he know what the outcome of the enquiry is? Is he obtaining insider information? His statement throws doubt on the legitimacy of any enquiry when he seems to be aware of the outcome before it is even published.
As for the Mouth of the South, the fact that she has admitted to breaking the law should be sufficient for her to resign as leader of the New Labour Sleaze and Corruption Party (North British Branch); assuming she has any integrity.
How can someone in this country on a student visa (Waseem Siddiqui) get themselves on the electoral register? Isn't that fraud? Are the police and the immigration authorities investigating this matter? If not, why not?
As for our part time Scottish Secretary, and part time Defence Secretary, Browne, how does he know what the outcome of the enquiry is? Is he obtaining insider information? His statement throws doubt on the legitimacy of any enquiry when he seems to be aware of the outcome before it is even published.
As for the Mouth of the South, the fact that she has admitted to breaking the law should be sufficient for her to resign as leader of the New Labour Sleaze and Corruption Party (North British Branch); assuming she has any integrity.
Posted by: Who gives a...., Glasgow on 2:27am Sun 27 Jan 08
What more could Scottish ministers and all non-labour ask for.... Wee Wendy must stay. GIves a source of great ammunition for poking the big stick at the double standards and sleeze and moral and democratic corruption, practiced by New Labour, North and South of the border. Roll on SNP..
What more could Scottish ministers and all non-labour ask for.... Wee Wendy must stay. GIves a source of great ammunition for poking the big stick at the double standards and sleeze and moral and democratic corruption, practiced by New Labour, North and South of the border. Roll on SNP..
Posted by: Scunnert, Travelling in Nihlon on 3:55am Sun 27 Jan 08
[bold]No more Labour resignations, says Browne
[italic]Is that a promise or a threat?[/bold][/italic]
No more Labour resignations, says Browne
Is that a promise or a threat? Posted by: Donald Anderson, glasgow on 6:13am Sun 27 Jan 08
[quote]Browne, who is also the defence secretary, will tell BBC Scotland's Politics show today in a pre-recorded interview that he doesn't expect any more resignations over the issue.[/quote] Like the predetermined Electrical Commission?
Browne, who is also the defence secretary, will tell BBC Scotland's Politics show today in a pre-recorded interview that he doesn't expect any more resignations over the issue.
Like the predetermined Electrical Commission?
Posted by: Donald Anderson, glasgow on 6:14am Sun 27 Jan 08
[quote]Browne, who is also the defence secretary, will tell BBC Scotland's Politics show today in a pre-recorded interview that he doesn't expect any more resignations over the issue.[/quote] Like the predetermined Electrical Commission?
Browne, who is also the defence secretary, will tell BBC Scotland's Politics show today in a pre-recorded interview that he doesn't expect any more resignations over the issue.
Like the predetermined Electrical Commission?
Posted by: Donald Anderson, glasgow on 6:14am Sun 27 Jan 08
[quote]Browne, who is also the defence secretary, will tell BBC Scotland's Politics show today in a pre-recorded interview that he doesn't expect any more resignations over the issue.[/quote] Like the predetermined Electrical Commission?
Browne, who is also the defence secretary, will tell BBC Scotland's Politics show today in a pre-recorded interview that he doesn't expect any more resignations over the issue.
Like the predetermined Electrical Commission?
Posted by: Donald Anderson, glasgow on 6:14am Sun 27 Jan 08
[quote]Browne, who is also the defence secretary, will tell BBC Scotland's Politics show today in a pre-recorded interview that he doesn't expect any more resignations over the issue.[/quote] Like the predetermined Electrical Commission?
Browne, who is also the defence secretary, will tell BBC Scotland's Politics show today in a pre-recorded interview that he doesn't expect any more resignations over the issue.
Like the predetermined Electrical Commission?
Posted by: Scotsgait, www.scotsgait.co.uk on 9:26am Sun 27 Jan 08
[quote][bold]Posted by: Guga, Rockall on 2:12am today[/bold]
How can someone in this country on a student visa (Waseem Siddiqui) get themselves on the electoral register? Isn't that fraud? Are the police and the immigration authorities investigating this matter? If not, why not?[/quote]
Commonwealth nationals resident in the UK are entitled to vote.
_______________
What are your views on the Lisbon Treaty ? Cast your vote in the latest Scotsgait poll
Posted by: Guga, Rockall on 2:12am today
How can someone in this country on a student visa (Waseem Siddiqui) get themselves on the electoral register? Isn't that fraud? Are the police and the immigration authorities investigating this matter? If not, why not?
Commonwealth nationals resident in the UK are entitled to vote.
_______________
What are your views on the Lisbon Treaty ? Cast your vote in the latest Scotsgait poll
Posted by: mt on 11:08am Sun 27 Jan 08
This country is so inefficient and it starts from the top.
Only when the politicians get their act together will we be a great nation again
This country is so inefficient and it starts from the top.
Only when the politicians get their act together will we be a great nation again
Posted by: Red Etin on 11:12am Sun 27 Jan 08
"What I am saying to you is, the people who have been involved in this, in my view, have all acted honestly."
A distorted understanding of honesty.
"What I am saying to you is, the people who have been involved in this, in my view, have all acted honestly."
A distorted understanding of honesty.
Posted by: badger on 11:35am Sun 27 Jan 08
Browne appears to be saying that there is no need for due process!
We're all nice people in the Labour Party therefore there is no need for observation of the law or resignations or any other such tiresome stuff....thats for the little people.
Browne appears to be saying that there is no need for due process!
We're all nice people in the Labour Party therefore there is no need for observation of the law or resignations or any other such tiresome stuff....thats for the little people.
Posted by: Disgusted Dorothy, Glasgow on 11:44am Sun 27 Jan 08
Well thats fine then, we'll ignore all the corruption and double speak. We'll just let them away with everything.
Who voted for the Labour Spin Party?
Anyone willing to admit it?
It wisnae me!
Well thats fine then, we'll ignore all the corruption and double speak. We'll just let them away with everything.
Who voted for the Labour Spin Party?
Anyone willing to admit it?
It wisnae me!
Posted by: megz, glasgow on 12:20pm Sun 27 Jan 08
it wisne me either, though my neighbour is a labour supporter but her vote got lost in the post haha job well done dougie!
it wisne me either, though my neighbour is a labour supporter but her vote got lost in the post haha job well done dougie!
Posted by: Observer on 1:10pm Sun 27 Jan 08
I think this is a case of, he would say that wouldn't he ? He is hardly going to predict Wendy's demise when she's been told to hang on for dear life. However, his prediction that no one else will resign and her own prediction that she will be exonerated puts a lot of pressure on the electoral commission as it is clear for all to see that the Labour establishment expect a whitewash.
I think this is a case of, he would say that wouldn't he ? He is hardly going to predict Wendy's demise when she's been told to hang on for dear life. However, his prediction that no one else will resign and her own prediction that she will be exonerated puts a lot of pressure on the electoral commission as it is clear for all to see that the Labour establishment expect a whitewash.
Posted by: Jeremy Wood, south carolina on 2:11pm Sun 27 Jan 08
In my line of work you are sacked for incompetence- if we accept no currution (big ask) why is accepting incompetence OK? Can't we expect politicians who know the rules?
In my line of work you are sacked for incompetence- if we accept no currution (big ask) why is accepting incompetence OK? Can't we expect politicians who know the rules?
Posted by: Jimbo on 2:51pm Sun 27 Jan 08
[quote]He claimed his brother Ahmed Yar Mohammed - the treasurer of Croydon Central Labour Party - asked him to write the cheque for £3334, then gave him the money.[/quote]
Why didn't they just hand over the money to Johnson's election team. This looks like a money laundering operation carried out in an attempt to hide where the money originated from in the first place.
Why was the Croydon Central Labour Party trying to hide the source of this cash? Remember that - we're dealing in cash here.
Did it come from a donor outwith the country? That's doubtful, they wouldn't have given them cash. Was it stolen? Was it collected locally, door to door? Did anyone question them as to how they came by it? Are Labour an organised money laundering outfit? It's looking more and more like it with every disclosure.
Regardless of what Browne says, I think the police will have to be called in here.
Do the Herald and Sunday Herald get their reports from the BBC and other papers now? Is it only the Aberdeen Press and Journal reporters who ask questions anymore?
He claimed his brother Ahmed Yar Mohammed - the treasurer of Croydon Central Labour Party - asked him to write the cheque for £3334, then gave him the money.
Why didn't they just hand over the money to Johnson's election team. This looks like a money laundering operation carried out in an attempt to hide where the money originated from in the first place.
Why was the Croydon Central Labour Party trying to hide the source of this cash? Remember that - we're dealing in cash here.
Did it come from a donor outwith the country? That's doubtful, they wouldn't have given them cash. Was it stolen? Was it collected locally, door to door? Did anyone question them as to how they came by it? Are Labour an organised money laundering outfit? It's looking more and more like it with every disclosure.
Regardless of what Browne says, I think the police will have to be called in here.
Do the Herald and Sunday Herald get their reports from the BBC and other papers now? Is it only the Aberdeen Press and Journal reporters who ask questions anymore?
Posted by: carlung, haddington on 6:52pm Sun 27 Jan 08
He claimed his brother Ahmed Yar Mohammed - the treasurer of Croydon Central Labour Party - asked him to write the cheque for £3334, then gave him the money.
What an unusual sum of money! Perhaps the proceeds from a quick whip round at the local Mosque? After all, if you want a Muslim for a neighbour, be sure and vote labour
He claimed his brother Ahmed Yar Mohammed - the treasurer of Croydon Central Labour Party - asked him to write the cheque for £3334, then gave him the money.
What an unusual sum of money! Perhaps the proceeds from a quick whip round at the local Mosque? After all, if you want a Muslim for a neighbour, be sure and vote labour
Posted by: Observer on 9:18pm Sun 27 Jan 08
Tut tut Carlung do try and get out of the gutter.
Tut tut Carlung do try and get out of the gutter.
Posted by: Friskynix, Croydon on 9:44pm Sun 27 Jan 08
Seeing that Ahmed Yar Mohammed is now up to his neck is the usual political sleaze associated with the present Labour Party, which I have supported for many years, I hope we can see his swift resignation. We don't want British politics, and Labour politics in particular dragged down to the level of Asian politics.
Seeing that Ahmed Yar Mohammed is now up to his neck is the usual political sleaze associated with the present Labour Party, which I have supported for many years, I hope we can see his swift resignation. We don't want British politics, and Labour politics in particular dragged down to the level of Asian politics.
Posted by: Observer on 10:30pm Sun 27 Jan 08
Ah you share the same gutter as Carlug.
Ah you share the same gutter as Carlug.
Posted by: allymax, upvinesass, scotland. on 3:13am Mon 28 Jan 08
[quote][bold]Clare[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Archie[/bold] wrote: Clare, Mr Browne and most of his New Labour friends are in a state of utter shock, fright, alarm, fear, etc , etc. Do not believe anything Browne or other Ministers say. Particularly at present, they are all like chickens who have lost their heads and are running around the kitchen, bleeding to death not knowing where to run and hide. I, for one, deeply regret the state this country has got into under this so called Labour government. 'Things can only get better'? Dear heavens above, little did we know in 1997 it would come to this. [/quote] Archie I know but we should still keep the pressure on the Commission. Does no harm. And it makes them aware that plenty of people, ordinary people, are watching. [/quote] I knew this would happen under Bliar, and I told my politics supervisor (Norrie McQeen), at the time. When Bliar forced 'clause 4' onto the 'national executive' I knew then he was a bounder, and, not a gentleman.
'blowing in the wind' ring any bells?
Clare wrote:
Archie wrote: Clare, Mr Browne and most of his New Labour friends are in a state of utter shock, fright, alarm, fear, etc , etc. Do not believe anything Browne or other Ministers say. Particularly at present, they are all like chickens who have lost their heads and are running around the kitchen, bleeding to death not knowing where to run and hide. I, for one, deeply regret the state this country has got into under this so called Labour government. 'Things can only get better'? Dear heavens above, little did we know in 1997 it would come to this.
Archie I know but we should still keep the pressure on the Commission. Does no harm. And it makes them aware that plenty of people, ordinary people, are watching.
I knew this would happen under Bliar, and I told my politics supervisor (Norrie McQeen), at the time. When Bliar forced 'clause 4' onto the 'national executive' I knew then he was a bounder, and, not a gentleman.
'blowing in the wind' ring any bells?
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