Danny Alexander caught in Lib Dems donations row

Danny Alexander launches a government technology scheme for business in the Glasgow Entrepreneurial Spark hatchery. Picture: John Devlin

The Liberal Democrat MP and chief Secretary to the Treasury was filmed apparently telling senior business figures how to avoid being identified as party donors. The Lib Dems have insisted the party and Mr Alexander have done nothing illegal or received any “dodgy” donations.But another prominent party member, Ibrahim Taguri, has resigned as the Brent Central candidate over the allegations.

The undercover reporter was apparently able to secure meetings with Mr Alexander, after giving several thousand pounds. The reporter was given access to a meeting where Mr Alexander made a pitch to businessmen.He reportedly said: “To win, we are going to need resources and we are going to ask you to help us.

“Now, some of you can stick your head over the parapet and have done in the past and for that we’re very grateful and will certainly be asking you again. Others I know, because of your professional position, and where you are find that much… much less easy to do. And of course, there is a way, in terms of anything under £7,500 [that] isn’t reported and doesn’t have to be reported to the Electoral Commission. There’s nothing shifty about that, nothing rare about that. It’s just the way the rule works, that’s the threshold for reporting.”

A Lib Dem spokesman said: “The party had not received the donation in question and if we had it would have been subject to a series of checks and procedures to ensure it met all legal requirements. We firmly reject any suggestion Danny Alexander or any other Liberal Democrat parliamentarian has acted in any way improperly.”

The SNP candidate fighting against Mr Alexander for the constituency of Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, Drew Hendry, said: “This latest episode is an extremely serious issue, apparently involving the Lib Dems at a very senior level seeking to break electoral law.”