Calling Victor Meldrew

I don't believe it! Remember a wee while back Wendy Alexander found herself reported to the procurator fiscal for committing the offence of not registering her dodgy donations in her register of interests? It was the end of January, February 1st at the latest.

Remember how the offence is taking part in proceedings of the Parliament while having an unregistered interest?

You would have thought, considering all the trouble she's been in, that she would have registered those interests quick-smart in order to avoid being in continued breach, wouldn't you? I mean, this time the defence of "I never knew" is definitely bogus, and section 6(2) of the Interests of Members of the Scottish Parliament Act 2006 only allows 7 days to register a late interest from the day the MSP becomes aware of it.

Wendy Alexander's entry in the Register of Interests still reads:

Remuneration:
Until 31 December 2006 I was a Visiting Professor at the Business School, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. I was paid an honorarium of between £10,001 and £15,000 per annum.
Between January 2006 and 10 January 2007 I wrote a weekly column in the Daily Record newspaper which is based at 1 Central Quay, Glasgow. I received remuneration of between £5,001 and £10,000 per annum.

Related Undertaking:
NONE

Election Expenses:
NONE

Sponsorship:
NONE

Gifts:
I received a donation of between £501 and £1000 on 28 December 2006 from the Transport and General Workers Union towards local campaign work.
I received a donation of between £501 and £1000 on 13 March 2007 from the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians towards local campaign work.

Overseas Visits:
NONE

Heritable Property:
NONE

Interest In Shares:
NONE

Miscellaneous:

Voluntary:
I am a Visiting Professor at the Business School, University of Strathclyde (unremunerated).
I received donations in November/December 2006 towards to production and posting of a 2007 calendar from the following: Reid Kerr College (£500), Chivas (£500), Braehead CSC Retail (£200), Capital Shopping Centres UK Property Group (£300), Abbotsinch Properties (£300), Phoenix Car Company (£300), CK Heating (£200) and WK Malcolm (£200).
I received, in February 2007, a benefit in kind for postage of a shared letter to Linwood constituents about Linwood Regeneration. The value of the benefit is estimated to be up to £500. Postage was jointly shared by Wendy Alexander and Denvir Marketing.
I received donations in November/December 2007, all banked in December 2007, towards production and posting of a 2008 constituency calendar from the following: Chivas Brothers Limited (£500), Abbotsinch Properties (£200), Phoenix Car Company (£300), WH Malcolm Ltd (£200), George Wimpey West Scotland Limited (£300), First Scotrail Limited (£200), Lomond Motors Limited (£200), Porcelanosa (Scotland) Limited (£300), Park Lane Developments (£300) and Tesco Stores Limited (£500). [Registered 21 December 2007]

Nothing there about her leadership donations, nothing. That's a continuation of the first offence if she speaks in chamber or committee, lodges question or motions, or takes part in any other Parliamentary activities before registering. Unless we're about to be told that the clerks have failed to update the register (because it's always someone else's fault these days), there's also a second offence being committed - the failure to register within seven days of becoming aware of the need to register a late registration.

Sometimes I just wonder.

This Sunday I shall mainly be reading the Sunday Times and the Sunday Post - fine journals.