EAST LOTHIAN LABOUR REPORTED FOR DONATION BREACH

EAST LOTHIAN LABOUR REPORTED FOR DONATION BREACH

DONATION ILLEGAL FOR ATLEAST NINE YEARS

East Lothian Labour party has been reported to the Electoral Commission as
it became clear their acceptance of support from East Lothian Council has
been illegal for at least nine years and may have been illegal since it
was first made by the then Labour Council in the 1990's.

Under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 –
introduced by Labour – it is the responsibility of political parties such
as CLPs, district branches or members organisations like the Labour club,
to check that any donation in cash or in kind valued at £200 or more is
from a permissible donor. (See attached briefing note)

It is clear Labour have repeatedly claimed this money without any checks
on the donation – despite them being legally required to do so. The
support has been around £500 to £700 three times the level at which Labour
should have conducted checks.

The support for the PrestonPans Labour party barbecue has been stopped
after an SNP councillor discovered the grant, whilst reviewing council
funding. The Council is now investigating how the grant was made and is
asking for the repayment of the support in cash for at least the last five
years.

SNP MSP Christine Grahame, who is referring the case to the Electoral
Commission repeated her call for Iain Gray to be clear if any of the
profits had contributed to his campaign funds in 2007 or 2008, how many
times he has attended the barbecue and if he was aware the facilities were
provided by the council.

South of Scotland MSP Ms Grahame said:

“I am today writing to the Electoral Commission to raise my concerns over
East Lothian Labour’s actions. This is taxpayers money that has been
illegally accepted for decades.

“Once again Labour has shown contempt for the law and contempt for the
people. For this to happen to the Labour leader’s local party is utterly
humiliating.

“It seems East Lothian Labour not only ensured their fundraiser got
council support, they overlooked the laws they wrote that would have seen
them forced to reject this support.

“Iain Gray must be clear – how much of the profits ended up in his
campaign fund and many times did he attend this barbecue?

“It is only the efforts of the SNP to monitor public spending in East
Lothian that have seen this scandalous practice exposed and I hope the
council inquiry uncovers why this was allowed in the first place.

“This kind of sneaky support for the Labour party from what was a Labour
local authority will surprise no one. It is this kind of behaviour that
saw voters across Scotland – including in East Lothian - reject Labour
local authorities.”

A BRIEFING NOTE ON THE COMPLAINT AND LEGISLATION IS ATTACHED.

1. The donation of marquee, staff to set up the marquee, furniture and
landscaping services would be classed as provision otherwise than on
commercial terms of any property, services or facilities for the use or
benefit of the donee (including the services of any person.

2. 6 (1) A controlled donation received by a regulated donee must not be
accepted by the donee if— (a) the person by whom the donation would be
made is not, at the time of its receipt by the donee, a permissible donor

3. The donation has been stopped by the SNP led administration. It is
understood the Council has today written to Labour.