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'It's a fiasco – but my nose isn't in the trough'



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Published Date:
10 February 2008
SCOTTISH Labour leader Wendy Alexander last night admitted she had presided over a "fiasco" in the row over her campaign donations.
But Alexander vowed to rebuild her leadership by championing a less cynical style of politics, revealing how she even considers "Buddhist" values of truth and kindness before launching attacks against opponents.

And in a wide-ranging Scotland on Sunday interview, Alexander angrily ridiculed any suggestion that she was on a political gravy train, pointing out she earned far less now than she did when working in the private sector.

But it emerged last night that Alexander has effectively been put on a year's probation by senior party figures, who warned she had until the 2009 European elections to prove her leadership credentials.

Alexander was cleared by election chiefs last week despite wrongly accepting a £950 donation from a businessmen in Jersey. The law says that politicians can only accept cash from UK taxpayers.

She insisted she had acted "honourably" during her leadership campaign last summer, claiming she had tried "to do the right thing". In a frank interview, she angrily dismissed any suggestion she was in politics for personal gain.

"Actually, the thing is that, goddammit, I am poorer now than I have been in 20 years. I earned more in the private sector than I ever earned in politics," she declared.

She added: "You have to look the part as well, goddammit. I never had my hair highlighted in my life before. Whatever this is, it's not a gravy train."

Alexander called for a less cynical style of politics, revealing that she considers Buddhist mantras before leading political attacks against opponents. "(Politics] is not the sort of world where the Buddhist mantra of, 'is it true, is it necessary, and is it kind', is very often applied to a political speech. But I do sometimes give thought before I speak to whether those tests have been applied," she said.

Alexander said she did not want to cast slurs on Alex Salmond's own honesty for the sake of scoring political points.

"It's not that I don't want to stand up and take Alex Salmond on, but do I fundamentally think he is a corrupt politician? No I don't."

Alexander's comments come with senior party figures warning that she has until next year's European elections to prove that she is capable of leading the party in Scotland over the long-term.

A senior party source said: "If she can demonstrate leadership she has got until the European elections next year. "

Several other party sources contacted by Scotland on Sunday said they believed she had no future at all. "She is toast," said one well-placed insider.

FACE TO FACE: READ CATHERINE DEVENEY'S INTERVIEW WITH THE LABOUR LEADER

The full article contains 467 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 09 February 2008 9:56 PM
  • Source: Scotland On Sunday
  • Location: Scotland
  • Related Topics: Scottish Labour Party
 
1

J J MAROONER,

KIRKCALDY 10/02/2008 00:06:06
"put on probation by senior party officials"

Is this what G BROWN from Kirkcaldy now calls himself
2

MtnKat,

10/02/2008 00:08:55
She needs her mouth washed out with soap.
A 'credible' leader does not use expletives in interviews.
3

,

10/02/2008 00:15:08
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
4

MtnKat,

10/02/2008 00:19:26
Eddie - Have you finally dug your ethics out of the trunk or is this an anomaly?
I'm stunned that you have refrained from editing her less edifying comments.
Dare I hope that the lightbulb has finally illuminated your former misguided perceptions?
5

Scottish Politics,

10/02/2008 00:21:59
Unbelievable. For Wendy to claim she is "poorer" now than she has been in 20 years is a slap in the face for people who have had the *really* low paid jobs. An MSP effectively claiming that they are underpaid deserves no sympathy from the public and this shows just how out of touch and insensitive Wendy Alexander really is.

Also sounds like Eddie Barnes has been reading the Labour Party crib notes with his assertion Wendy was "cleared".
6

Deep Puddle,

10/02/2008 00:22:24
Alexander was not cleared by election chiefs last week despite wrongly accepting a £950 donation from a businessmen in Jersey. The law says that politicians can only accept cash from UK taxpayers.

The Electoral Commission decided it was "not in the public interest" to refer the matter to the Crown Office. Which means something quite different.

"Roger­ Irrelevant,
08/02/2008 01:17:53
I am the journalist who is impersonating roger I am not posts 71 or 72 they are fakes.

This journalist is now cutting and pasting you.

*****(My parenthesis) we cant be bothered with you.

We let people impersonate others because it increases our advertising revenue because it looks like we have more posters on the site.

Occasionally we do this ourselves to get people fired up.

***** my job is too get as many posts as possible on the site. If that means impersonating people then that's exactly what we will do. Sadly some of our posters figured it out and used it against us. I am only telling you because this is my last day."

'ello, 'ello, ello, wot's all this 'ere then?

Shouldn't we all be "championing a less cynical style of politics, revealing how she even considers "Buddhist" values of truth and kindness before launching attacks . . . ." ?

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7

Conan the Librarian™,

10/02/2008 00:24:29
Fiasco.

A complete and ignominious failure.

Disaster, catastrophe, debacle, flop, bomb.

Are you happy with your leader, Labour voters?
8

MtnKat,

10/02/2008 00:24:41
Colin R
Not to worry, her immunity is wearing thin. Note her admiting that, unlike she and her compatriots, Alex Salmond is NOT corrupt. How do you think that admission is going to play in Downing St?
9

\seasider,

Saltcoats 10/02/2008 00:24:46
What a crowd of ______ is there no credibility with these people? All I see between this and the story of Hain is more expensive exspensive spin. She still feeds from the same trough.
10

,

10/02/2008 00:29:06
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
11

MtnKat,

10/02/2008 00:30:07
Evening Conan
Is our 'plunge pool' friend still around?
12

J J MAROONER,

KIRKCALDY 10/02/2008 00:34:16
I am sure the remark about being poorer will go down well in Paisley.

13

MtnKat,

10/02/2008 00:35:46
What is her litmus test for 'poorer'?
Thousands?
14

megz,

glasgow 10/02/2008 00:37:50
of course her nose isn't in the trough, she has to be able to breathe goddammit!!!! thats why her mouth is so big hehe.
15

MtnKat,

10/02/2008 00:40:25
I'm still curious about where the funds she solicited for her unopposed 'camaign went to?
16

MtnKat,

10/02/2008 00:41:36
s/b campaign
17

Vivas,

Edinburgh 10/02/2008 00:43:53
For all you Paisley buddies out there on benefits ... on 12K a year call centre jobs ... this is your chance to reach out to Wendy ... and for Wendy to reach out to you. She has empathy...she feels your pain ... she knows how it feels....

"Actually, the thing is that, goddammit, I am poorer now than I have been in 20 years. I earned more in the private sector than I ever earned in politics," she declared.
18

Jimmy the Pie,

10/02/2008 00:48:13
If there is any money left over from the London Olympics maybe it should go to Wendy??
I'm planning a flag day for her to scrape some desperatly need money for Her. ;-)
Will I put you down for a tenner AM2???
19

Richard,

West Lothian 10/02/2008 00:51:49
"In a (very short)frank interview",my parentheses, Wendy made a fool of herself taking the Lord's name in vain! Hardly the language one would expect from a daughter of the manse? Hahahahah!

"And in a wide-ranging Scotland on Sunday interview"...

What five questions? Hahahahahaha!




20

J J MAROONER,

KIRKCALDY 10/02/2008 00:53:20
I wonder if senior figures in the Scottish Labour Party are going to allow the Party to become a bigger joke than it already is before they act to remove Alexander.

Had Gordon Brown been riding high in the polls down south she would have walked by now.



21

Deep Puddle,

10/02/2008 00:53:30
The article states "Several other party sources contacted by Scotland on Sunday said they believed she had no future at all."

And ends: '"She is toast," said one well-placed insider.'

And that's her friends?

Despite the perceived bias on this site I am utterly confounded by the alleged "Cybernat" attacks (you're an old fool GF!) against ordinary folk expressing views in these threads.

You slouched off to the Glesca paper's boards for solace, KarinM and your sad mates. The blogspot link reveals 121 profile views, 4 comments and sweet funny else. Some revolution!

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22

Gregor Addison,

Glasgow 10/02/2008 00:56:17
Who says 'goddamit'? What century is she from? The fact is she has presided over a fiasco that is her own making. She had four months of wrangling over the budget to make a case. In that time, she could have made it clear what Labour stand for. Not only did she fail to change the budget one iota, but she failed to get over to the public what she actually believes in and what Labour stand for. Wendy Alexander is a virtual politician, there is no substance to her at all; it is all spin. Now Labour are saddled with her.
23

The Former Mr. Angry,

Perth 10/02/2008 01:02:16
She really is utterly deluded. Buddhist values, less cynical approach. Try removing the beam from your eye Wendy - before cynically trying to deny your culpability in this matter. Only ever regretting the fiasco due to being found out. It's a case of must try harder, but maybe not for long if your colleagues are sharpening the knives. I think most people would have preferred another Buddhist value - humility - being demonstrated in this affair instead of obstinate arrogance.
24

Deep Puddle,

10/02/2008 01:08:07
Meanwhile, over at the Sunday ****ld:

GORDON BROWN has delivered another blow to Wendy Alexander's Labour leadership by downgrading and seizing control of her plan to boost Holyrood's powers.

The prime minister has made it clear Alexander's proposal for a Constitutional Commission should be reduced to either a review''or a working party''.

He has also stated that Whitehall, rather than the Scottish parliament, should take the lead in setting up any review of devolution.
advertisement

His views were made clear at a Downing Street summit last month on Alexander's constitutional reform plans, which took place without her being present.

Wendy "in absentia". Probably, nobody noticed.


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25

Edward,

10/02/2008 01:08:57
From the Sunday Herald - 'Brown lays down the law to Wendy: 'I'm in control of debate on Scotland's future'
GORDON BROWN has delivered another blow to Wendy Alexander's Labour leadership by downgrading and seizing control of her plan to boost Holyrood's powers.
The prime minister has made it clear Alexander's proposal for a Constitutional Commission should be reduced to either a review''or a working party''.
He has also stated that Whitehall, rather than the Scottish parliament, should take the lead in setting up any review of devolution.His views were made clear at a Downing Street summit last month on Alexander's constitutional reform plans, which took place without her being present.
http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.2032977.0.0.php
About says all really!
Wendy is up here pretending she is in charge and all the time its Gordon Brown pulling the strings!



26

,

10/02/2008 01:10:41
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
27

Deep Puddle,

10/02/2008 01:12:14
http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.2032977.0.0.php

for the full story by Paul Hutcheon

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28

Edward,

10/02/2008 01:12:25
#24
Sorry for repeating what you provided - great minds and all that!
29

democrate,

central Scotland 10/02/2008 01:13:43
Time to come clean. Your nose is in the trough. Very plain and very simple. You took an illegal donation and will not produce the email evidence to contradict that. That you are not being prosecuted is a gift to me the next time I park on a double yellow or speed. Strict liability? Depends if you are a Labour politician or otherwise. Sadly, you remain happy to try to sell Scotland out for your personal ambitions.
30

A Better Way,

Edinburgh 10/02/2008 01:17:04
What this article confirms is that while Wendy is given the title of Leader of Holyrood Labour, she is still very much a senior person in what Tony Blair described as a parish council.

London Labour once more demonstrating that they will decide who is leader up here in our country. Its very much the same with Nicol and Annabel, with London calling the shots. While the Scottish People have Alex Salmond and his team of Scots who fire the shots whether London likes it or not.

Why any Scottish Person would tolerate London telling a political leader whether they are allowed to continue in a job they were elected to do by Scottish People is beyond my way of thinking.

I dare them to try the same thing with Alex Salmond and the SNP Government of all the Scottish People without preference, no matter how they voted. My god the SNP would even stand up for this Newspapers Democratic right to promote its loyalty to London. Cant say the same for the Britnat Labour Party who keep attacking the media who have come over to the Scottish Way. Christ all they have left is the BBC and STV.
31

subrosa,

10/02/2008 01:18:18
# 27

Can you explain how I can do that? I'm not clued up with html. Thanks.
32

,

10/02/2008 01:21:55
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
33

Jwil,

10/02/2008 01:22:07
"Alexander said she did notwant to cast slurs on Alex Salmond's own honesty for the sake of scoring political points.

In other words she could if she wanted to!

"It's not that I don't want to stand up and take Alex Salmond on, but do I fundamentally think he is a corrupt politician? No I don't."

How on earth did these statements come to be in this article? Even mentioning it(in spite of what she says) suggests that she is questioning Alex Salmond's integrity.
34

Alex, Young Laird d' Drumchapel,

Madrid 10/02/2008 01:23:54
How they gonnie spin this one:

From The Sunday Times February 10, 2008

"Labour chief in new funding row" Tom Gordon


"WENDY ALEXANDER, the Scottish Labour leader, is facing an investigation by the Electoral Commission into a claim that she channelled £12,000 through a Labour front organisation to fund her constituency office. The police have also been asked to investigate."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3334740.ece
35

Jimmy the Pie,

10/02/2008 01:25:58
Just read the Sunday Times article.
Maybe £999.99p is a piddling sum as in the last fiasco.
Is £12000???

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3334740.ece
Worth a read!!!
36

Deep Puddle,

10/02/2008 01:27:48
Oh, and for the avoidance of doubt,

Deep Puddle (for it is me), when not being irrelevant and a (not jolly) pirate flag, is a Scottish Conservative & Unionist.

It happens.
37

,

10/02/2008 01:29:08
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
38

Deep Puddle,

10/02/2008 01:32:27
Forgot to add (for, surely, Thursday night/ Friday morning was a torrid time on these threads):

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39

Richard,

West Lothian 10/02/2008 01:33:06
Beware the SIF!
40

Deep Puddle,

10/02/2008 01:37:32
#28, Edward.

It's OK.

I was hounded off these threads by dark forces last Thursday. (see Post 6 above for the saved quotes)

Nemo me impune laccessit.

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41

Juan Kerr :-) ,

10/02/2008 01:51:40
#33 - Her words are a pile of ass saving double speak.

"But Alexander vowed to rebuild her leadership by championing a less cynical style of politics, revealing how she even considers "Buddhist" values of truth and kindness before launching attacks against opponents."

IS THIS WHY SHE HAS BEEN BRIEFING ALL OF THE OTHER PARTIES WRONG DOINGS, EITHOUT ANY GROUNDS OTHER THAN SHE'D BEEN COLARED? SEEING AS SHE TELLS ALL MSP's WHAT TO THINK AND SAY?


""Actually, the thing is that, goddammit, I am poorer now than I have been in 20 years. I earned more in the private sector than I ever earned in politics," she declared. "

THAT WOULD BE THE JOB UNCLE DONALD GOT YOU?
Also. How many sirecotorships of companies does she have? Quite a few invleved in the out of town retail sector , strangling paisley and partick etc

"It's not that I don't want to stand up and take Alex Salmond on, but do I fundamentally think he is a corrupt politician? No I don't."
UNLIKE HER. AS A PROVEN CORRUPT POLITICAN.


AND THE ICING ONTHE CAKE COURTESY OF THE TIMES AND RIGHT ON CUE!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3334740.ece?Submitted=true

"WENDY ALEXANDER, the Scottish Labour leader, is facing an investigation by the Electoral Commission into a claim that she channelled £12,000 through a Labour front organisation to fund her constituency office. The police have also been asked to investigate."

The article here is a little too late luv!Grudged and incincere appologies and feeding the media stories about your virtues does not wash when the times are running this?

YOUR A CROOK, YOU SHOULD LEAVE POLTITICS AND YOU SHOULD NEVER RETURN.

42

Deep Puddle,

10/02/2008 01:52:54
#31,

File(top left of page), click, "Save Page As" and choose a location (make a file) to save the page.

43

Canada,

southampton 10/02/2008 01:55:24
As a Christian I am offended by Wendy's profanity. Sharia law should be applied here.
44

Juan Kerr :-) ,

10/02/2008 01:55:41
"Labour chief in new funding rowTom Gordon
WENDY ALEXANDER, the Scottish Labour leader, is facing an investigation by the Electoral Commission into a claim that she channelled £12,000 through a Labour front organisation to fund her constituency office. The police have also been asked to investigate.

The development put her under renewed pressure just days after the commission had ruled that it was not in the public interest to report her to police over a £950 illegal donation from Paul Green, a Jersey-based businessman, to her 2007 campaign for the party leadership.

Businessmen, including a Scottish Conservative party fundraiser, claim they were misled into contributing to her office in the run-up to the 2003 election to the Scottish parliament. "

WELL THEY WERE ALMOST RIGHT IN WHERE THE DONATION WAS GOING. JUST GOT THE WRONG RIGHT WING PARTY.ITS A MUDDLE NOT A FIDDLE, HONEST!

Notice AM2 says he's not patisan?And is never keen too comment on a crooked wendy story.
45

Deep Puddle,

10/02/2008 01:56:27
FYI

41 is part of KarinM's wee gang. Bereft of brain cells, they bully instead.

Now at the Herald.

So, for revealing that, shoot me!

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46

Deep Puddle,

10/02/2008 02:02:00
I thought about hitting the "Report Unsuitable" button for Post 43.

The "Ignore" feature is better.
47

Alex, Young Laird d' Drumchapel,

Madrid 10/02/2008 02:04:15
I would like to propose that we call this one "Wendygate2"

From The Sunday Times
February 10, 2008

"Labour chief in new funding row"

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3334740.ece
48

Edward,

10/02/2008 02:04:25
Apparently there has been yet another leak at Labour towers. All the Labour MSP's have been given yet another scrpt to quote from when talking to journalists
It is as follows :
1. Suggestions that Labour should have done a deal with the SNP is ridiculous. JS (John Swinney) will NEVER do a deal with Labour because we are the only political force that can defeat the SNP
2. Success for JS would have been to bring forth a minority government's budget that had the support of all minority parties because of co-operation and negotiation. He not even sic attempted to engage the largest opposition party
3. Labour has made our priorities for the budget clear. We will speak to anyone at any time who wants to find a way of introducing social justice to the budget.'
Apprently a Labour spokeswoman said: "We don't comment on leaks, but it is true to say that the mood at the shadow cabinet was upbeat. All the shadow cabinet are united behind Wendy's leadership and they were pleased that the media had finally started to reflect that!"
She apprently was quoting from a previous script!
49

Juan Kerr :-) ,

10/02/2008 02:11:34
#45 - I am flattered you find my words so provocative as to shoot me down without offering any evidence.

Does your name derrive from the stuff oozing out of your ears?
50

Richard,

West Lothian 10/02/2008 02:11:35
Well thats Wendy's Sunday ruined!
51

Alex, Young Laird d' Drumchapel,

Madrid 10/02/2008 02:17:28
What did she say? That she was glad she could move on and put it behind her?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3334740.ece
52

Juan Kerr :-) ,

10/02/2008 02:18:04
#45 - Deep Puddle, or is that trouble?

COuld it be that you find offence in the fact that I have highlighted areas where wendy alexander is being disengenuous?

For example, talking about a clean politic on the day this articel comes out in thetimes?

"Labour chief in new funding rowTom Gordon
WENDY ALEXANDER, the Scottish Labour leader, is facing an investigation by the Electoral Commission into a claim that she channelled £12,000 through a Labour front organisation to fund her constituency office. The police have also been asked to investigate.

The development put her under renewed pressure just days after the commission had ruled that it was not in the public interest to report her to police over a £950 illegal donation from Paul Green, a Jersey-based businessman, to her 2007 campaign for the party leadership.

Businessmen, including a Scottish Conservative party fundraiser, claim they were misled into contributing to her office in the run-up to the 2003 election to the Scottish parliament. "

You find commenting on her double standards and snide operational practices as bullying?

I also note you commented on my first post ,which contains no bullying.

Just harshly worded for the criminaly negligent to understand. And the willfully blind which is the rag taggle band of whats left of the once proud labour movement of scotland.
53

Juan Kerr :-) ,

10/02/2008 02:23:29
#40 - Deep Puddle I get it why I am being attacked without cause. Your suffering from paranoid dellusions. Being attacked by dark forces.

Wait till the computer starts talking to you! BOOH!
54

Brian Hill,

Edinburgh 10/02/2008 03:03:09
It's an obvious truth but it has to be said, her nose is not in the trough. Let's beat her and her party with superior policies and not by attacks on her personally. Technically she broke the law but she's no crook.
55

An Beal Bacht,

10/02/2008 03:03:57
Om Mani padme fcuk!
56

An Beal Bacht,

10/02/2008 03:07:23
54 - Col. Blimp IV*, 10/02/2008 02:18:12;

As Dostoyevsky said - 2 + 2 is mathematics!
57

Juan Kerr :-) ,

10/02/2008 03:14:57
#56 - I can appreciate your view but from where I am standing and have seen labour figures operate. She is going by the rule book allright. The one with a whole section devoted to brown envelopes and the "new cash", Directorships.
58

Juan Kerr :-) ,

10/02/2008 03:17:43
Wendy Alexander asking for a less cynical politic is like the Yorkshire Ripper asking for more lenient rape sentencing , as he's cleaned up his act since he last got caught.
59

Jamesg,

Western Australia 10/02/2008 03:31:39
Good to see the Labour is been held accountable for wrongly accepting a £950 donation from a businessmen in Jersey. Of course it is the illegal behaviour of the Labour leader as opposed to the sum which matters. The intensity surrounding this issue shows that democracy is alive and well in Scotland.

Here in Western Australia the amount of local government and state governmnet mis-dealings which has been publicly aired since I have lived here makes the Alexander issue look like a disagreement at a kiddies tea-party. Not that long ago we had the State labour premier jailed for corruption (charged with various offences for which he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment in 1990 and in 1997 he was sentenced to three years' jail for stealing $122,585 in campaign donations). Yet after all this he still remains prominent in political dealings in WA and still retains close relatiopships and influence with current labour politicians. Some of them (including top bureaucrats) are slowly falling like dominoes. It is quite literally the ‘wild politcal west’ out here.
60

Yeti,

10/02/2008 03:33:20
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/34474/-I-will-have-Wendy-charged-

Not over quite yet then - maybe
61

Jimmy the Pie,

10/02/2008 03:45:56
AM2
No comments on the latest scandel involving your pal Wendy? Yet another criminal investigation??
Might be sub-judice though???
62

Jimmy the Pie,

10/02/2008 03:50:50
Maybe this next police investigation will burst the policing budget?? Was this why New Labour Sleaze and Corruption were against Alex budget last week????
63

,

10/02/2008 03:59:39
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
64

An Beal Bacht,

10/02/2008 04:05:29
62 - Yeti, 10/02/2008 03:33:20 writes:

"Not over quite yet then - maybe"

It's aw ower bar the shoutin!
65

a proud doonhamer,

Dumfries 10/02/2008 04:41:40
'It's a fiasco – but my nose isn't in the trough'

She must have thought it was a hot tub and kept her nose up in the air.
66

Very Rev Ian Paisley,

10/02/2008 04:56:36
Now she was taking money from economic renewal projects for her own campaign's.

"Businessmen, including a Scottish Conservative party fundraiser, claim they were misled into contributing to her office in the run-up to the 2003 election to the Scottish parliament.

They attended two dinners organised by the nominally independent Scottish Industry Forum (SIF), held to promote the economic renewal of Renfrewshire, unaware that the money raised would effectively be used to help Alexander to be re-elected as MSP for Paisley North".

I wonder if she applied her Buddist tests to this?

She is a disgrace

67

Very Rev Ian Paisley,

10/02/2008 04:58:48
They will just carry on and on unless something is done to stop them.

Anyone got Buddha's number?
68

rawhide ,

Glasgow 10/02/2008 05:02:12
Wee wee Wendy bleats."Actually, the thing is that, goddammit, I am poorer now than I have been in 20 years. I earned more in the private sector than I ever earned in politics," she declared.
The drone of a pathetic liar trying to seek sympathy.
God she makes me heave , puke.
The people of paisley dont want her either.
69

Very Rev Ian Paisley,

10/02/2008 05:35:12
She is not as poor as the people she was taking money away from in Renfrewshire to help her get the 60k salary plus expenses.
70

Ross Fyffe,

Scotland 10/02/2008 05:36:14
with a gob like hers the nose disnae staun a chance in the trough,
71

Very Rev Ian Paisley,

10/02/2008 05:36:16
Do people in Paisley vote for her?
72

rawhide ,

Glasgow 10/02/2008 05:42:48
£40.000 of tax payers money given by wendy to COMPUTERS FOR LABOUR,to pay for services that are available FREE at holyrood.
You have no credability wendy you are a pathetic joke.
and a fcukin expensive one at that.
73

Geoff,

sa 10/02/2008 06:33:48
Morning All-some serious insomnia amongst you! And it would appear, on this forum thus far, not much support for poor Wendy. Does that mean that Unionists are late risers?
74

donald,

glasgow 10/02/2008 06:40:21
Will we see the Alexander sisters and Team Bendy chanting Hari Krishna and committing more Hari Kari in the Royal Mile? Will they swap their loyalist John Reid Orange sashes for Liberal Saffron goons?
75

Ciderman 542000,

Forres 10/02/2008 06:43:33
The name "Wendy" is carte blanche for all you mummy hating misogynists out there to vent your collective spleen. If such bile and invective is all you have to offer Scottish politics what you are demonstrating is that Scotland is clearly divided in more ways than we have yet to discover.
Make hay while you can, because Salmond will let you down. The dream of Scottish independence will turn to ashes, into a nightmare with an ensuing backlash against the SNP for Salmond's failings.
But, that is exactly what you "battle hardened" SNP drones expect to happen, thus the invective against Wendy Alexander.
You people will NEVER rule Scotland; democracy and freedom would be at risk in an independent Scotland. The Scottish people will NEVER let it happen!
76

Ciderman 542000,

Forres 10/02/2008 06:49:38
For all you members of Salmond's private militia ask yourselves who is getting fatter on the gravy train. Salmond with the three, maybe four incomes streams who leads your party, or any member of any other party?
77

Ciderman 542000,

Forres 10/02/2008 06:51:24
The Scottish people will "never capitulate" to SNP doctrinal and personal intolerance.
78

Nikostratos,

10/02/2008 07:17:13
Om Mani Pad me hum .......Om Mani Padme hum.......Om Mani Padme hum.......Om Mani Padme hum.......Om Man i Padme hum.......
79

Nikostratos,

10/02/2008 07:25:48
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rame
Rama Rama Hare Hare
80

Nikostratos,

10/02/2008 07:40:07

In Politics if thou would'st mix,
And mean thy fortunes be;
Bear this in mind,-be deaf and blind,
Let great folk hear and see.

Robert Burns
81

Auckland Arab2,

10/02/2008 07:46:10
This is great. If she had resigned this would have all been behind Labour now but on it drags, now with new allegations in The Times. Just sit back and watch the show unfold. Dear oh dear.
82

Stephen101,

Stupid Wendy 10/02/2008 07:51:53
"pointing out she earned far less now than she did when working in the private sector."

But of course she didn't last long in he private sector! From wikipedia "After her MBA she was then briefly a consultant for the international management consultancy Booz Allen Hamilton."

If Wendy is so bleedin brainy why does she not resign as long as she gets a safe Westminster seat. Grab the Holyrood pension. Get yer snout into a new set of troughs through representing the poor of Liverpool or Newcastle. Get caught again, resign and this time go for the MEP 'opportunity'.

Stack up the pensions on the way. You know it makes sense Wendy, you thieving crook.

83

rawhide ,

Glasgow 10/02/2008 08:02:15
The unionists are awake but still talkin gibberish.
I think ciderman has been oan the white lightening.
84

Media 1,

cape town 10/02/2008 08:13:59
There is politicians who survive and fight on, and those who want to act like children and run to the country when things are not going their way!
85

Teamdroid,

10/02/2008 08:24:03
Wendy - "Alexander called for a less cynical style of politics, revealing that she considers Buddhist mantras before leading political attacks against opponents."

A truly laughable call - presumably trying to defend your own illegal donations, by claiming opponents did similarly in their campaigns (especially when one of them, Alex Neil, wasn't even campaigning!) isn't cynical?

Yet more Wendy sleaze in the Sunday Times today, I note.
86

NBJT,

North Berwick 10/02/2008 08:28:55
I am the Labour Leader therefore I cannot do anything wrong!!!! What nonsense.

Message to Alex Salmond - Please, please go for an election and get rid of these whining Labour MSPs. They cant uccept that they are no longer in power.
87

subrosa,

10/02/2008 08:48:33
# 42

Many thanks. I can manage that. Thought it might be a bit more complicated. :)
88

cabrach loon,

inverness 10/02/2008 08:55:04
certainly not cleared / just not proven / how obscene to be represented by her! she will destroy herself and hopefully her brother and party before too long.
89

haggis 10,

Edinburgh 10/02/2008 09:34:01
Salmond Clean as a whistle
90

tartan army 2222,

10/02/2008 09:46:25
As a staunch nationalist I actually don't think Wendy's nose is in the trough. However, I think she sees financial opportunities that will advance her cause and grasps them. Therefore, it is the Labour Party whose nose is in the trough.

Re the interview - bizarre. This is a woman on the cusp. Couple of things jumped out:

"she even considers "Buddhist" values of truth and kindness before launching attacks against opponents"
Whit! Is this in there to soften her hard image?

"I am poorer now than I have been in 20 years. I earned more in the private sector than I ever earned in politics"
And? Surely that's a reason for a nose to be IN the trough? Also she's been in politics a long time now and this is the most she's earned so the statement is obviously untrue. Finally, to use the word 'poorer' when her family income is quite likely over £100,000 is obscene and really puts New Labour values in perspective.
91

connaughtboy,

stonehaven 10/02/2008 10:04:45
She can't help putting her foot in it every time she opens her mouth. And by the way Eddie Barnes, she has NOT been "cleared" by anyone. To suggest she has is pure spin.
92

Phil C,

10/02/2008 10:13:25
'It's a fiasco – but my nose isn't in the trough'.. Said the woman with a snout!
93

,

10/02/2008 10:14:59
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
94

Le Drapeau Noir,

Gorgie Road 10/02/2008 10:25:45
Ma sides......this woman is clearly unhinged.Is there nothing the NHS can do for her??Ach just let the LABOUR party wallow in their misery.Cretins the lot of them!!!
95

Ciderman 542000,

Forres 10/02/2008 10:26:05
Wendy Alexander has one salary, greedy Alec Salmond has four and it is her nose that is in the trough?
Only a party led by and populated by misogynists would come to that conclusion.
96

Juan Kerr :-) ,

10/02/2008 10:28:58
It's a muddle not a puddle.
97

Juan Kerr :-) ,

10/02/2008 10:31:54
Ciderman. I take it junta HQ did a round robin to get the few remaining activists they left in Scotland to man the computers? Wheres that guy that runs SEPA? MMMMMMMMM, fishy.....

Hows about tony and Cherie Blair, Accepting nothing less than a private jet to travel and many hundreds of thosands to speak.

If that is the best you can come up with, then it is time to put the White Lightning down.
98

Feenon,

Edinburgh 10/02/2008 10:33:07
Shame the journo didn't address the root of Buddhism - cause and effect.

Cause - accept illegal money

Effect - bring self, party, judgement into ridicule; be out of a job (however poorly paid).
99

tartan army 2222,

10/02/2008 10:34:17
Ciderman

Misogynists? For attacking a woman who ADMITTED to breaking the law? Put aside your hatred of the SNP and take an objective look. If it had been Kerr or Gray who was Labour's leader and did this then the SNP would be attacking them just as much. It's about politics - not sex.
100

sceptic,

10/02/2008 10:34:33
Seems you have to read the Times to get the news!
"WENDY ALEXANDER, the Scottish Labour leader, is facing an investigation by the Electoral Commission into a claim that she channelled £12,000 through a Labour front organisation to fund her constituency office. The police have also been asked to investigate."
101

Juan Kerr :-) ,

10/02/2008 10:38:53
#97 - Ciderman - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3334740.ece

Any comments also on the 40,000! YES £40000. That Labour billed as an expesne , software that was freely available.

Or the £180,000 LAbour received to learn the rules, Guess that all just went into party coffers?
102

Fabius Maximus,

10/02/2008 10:38:57
What a nasty, prurient, bunch of keich bum toley pie misogynists seem to dominate these posts!

I agree, she's made a mess, and she'll hsve to go, and Scottish Labour is damaged out of all proportion for her lax overseeing of her campaign. She must know that herself - her party in Scotland certainly does, and "senior labour officials" does not mean Gordon Brown, or any of Ms Alexander's friends, north or southe of the border.

What does it say about the kind of people you are that you so relish applying the boot to a woman who is so patently down?
103

Ciderman 542000,

Forres 10/02/2008 10:42:19
tartan army 2222 # 101

It is the tone and sustained nature of the attacks that is misogynstic. You people cannot stand that a woman is a position of power that most of you could not even aspire to.
Why does oily Salmond's wife not accompany him on his duties? Is it because of her age or is it because she cannot bear the company of so many woman haters?
104

Juan Kerr :-) ,

10/02/2008 10:45:14
#104 - Have you considered penning sob stories for Mills and Broon?

She has used position to engraciate herself into a first class seat on the gravy train. Thjis is not misogynism, It is RAGE!

RAGE because she preaches fighting for the poor , when the only person the people of paisley see is her fighting for what SHE can get for HER.

The rest of the complicet chimps of Scottish Labour are equally as guilty. The whole party is corrupt in it's money laundering activities, diversion of public funds for the purposes they were not intended for.


So being angry at corruption is not masogyny

105

Just_Me,

moray 10/02/2008 10:45:41
I dont think labour have any one else in scotland who could be taken seriously as a leader.

If wendy ever wants any level of credibility though, she will have to be seen to unquestionably show a distinction between scottish labours policys for scotland as being more important to her than UK labours policys for the UK.

I do get the feeling that the year she has been given by her seniours is more for UK labour to find a replacement than for her to suceed!
106

rawhide ,

Glasgow 10/02/2008 10:47:20
lovin it.
OH HAPPY DAYS.
107

kimba,

10/02/2008 10:51:17
Would you lot be baying for Salmonds bloody if he had made the same mistake;I think not!
108

tartan army 2222,

10/02/2008 10:51:32
Ciderman

Nicola Sturgeon. Fiona Hyslop. 'nuff said.

Salmond's wife - absolutely ridiculous. Perhaps she simply doesn't like the limelight, or the general political scene - or is that not radical enough to fit into your idea that we all hate women? Stay off the cider - it's not good for you at this time of the day.