Labour activist admits stealing party money

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THE FORMER treasurer in Jack McConnell?s constituency Labour Party office yesterday admitted stealing thousands of pounds from party funds.

Elizabeth Wilson, 62, pleaded guilty at Hamilton Sheriff Court to embezzling £11,000, which included money from controversial dinners.

The court heard Wilson, a party member for 24 years, stole the cash by forging the signature of another trustee. Sentence was deferred for reports.

Following the discovery of a hole in the accounts of the Motherwell and Wishaw constituency party, there were attempts to link the First Minister with the affair.

Mr McConnell, the constituency MSP, and the local MP, Frank Roy, who shares the office, were cleared of any blame after an internal inquiry. A party spokesman said: "I hope this will bring what has been a difficult episode to a close."

However, opposition parties were last night raising questions over the accounts.

A spokesman for the Conservative Party said: "This closes one chapter in the saga but leaves questions unanswered about who was at the dinners and where did the money go."

And the SNP called for all the facts about the accounts to be made public.

"This case has cast a dark shadow over the First Minister?s integrity," a spokesman said.

"Now that there is no question of hiding behind a court case, it is important that he places in the public domain all the files relating to the infamous Red Rose fund."

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