ALBA: ALEXANDER DEPARTURE ALSO EXPOSES 'INCOMPETENT' ELECTORAL COMMISSION

It is not only Wendy Alexander and the Labour Party who should be feeling discredited by events over the past few weeks leading up to the decision of the former leader of the Scottish Labour Party to resign.

The United Kingdom Electoral Commission conducted an enquiry some weeks ago. However the commission ruled she had taken "significant" steps to comply with the law, though not all that was required, and therefore had decided not to report her to prosecutors.

Their decision was rightly condemned by Alex Neil MSP who claimed the commission had shown itself to be incompetent by failing to refer Ms Alexander for accepting an "impermissible donation".

The Scottish Labour Party farce was therefore allowed to drag on until the Scottish Parliaments own standards body effected a just and rightful determination on the Labour leaders wrongdoing.

It is to be hoped that in addition to analysing the propriety of the donations system which led to Scottish Labours political scandal questions will also be posed about the effectiveness of the Electoral Commission.

It ill behoves the democratic institutions of the United Kingdom to point fingers at democratic abuses abroad when decisions such as the Electoral Commissions infamous 'Alexander decision' remain unchallenged.

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

29/06/08