Party event advertised on Westminster stationery
By Paul Hutcheon, Scottish Political Editor

A Scottish Labour MP appears to have broken parliamentary rules by using publicly-funded facilities to advertise a boozy fundraising dinner for his local party.

Brian Donohoe's office sent flyers for a "dinner with Alastair Campbell", the former director of communications for Tony Blair, on House of Commons notepaper - a practice that is strictly forbidden.

The Central Ayrshire MP's taxpayer-funded office and his secretary were also listed as contact points for anyone interested in attending the £750-a-table dinner.

Labour MPs are becoming increasingly anxious about the prospect of losing their seats amid plummeting support for Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The party is also struggling to compete financially with the Conservatives after a fall in donations from wealthy businessmen.

Donohoe, who is defending a majority of 10,423, drummed up support earlier this month for a "fundraising gala dinner" for his local party on September 11.

Organisers are charging £80 a head, or £750 for table of 10, with cheques to be made payable to the Central Ayrshire Constituency Labour Party.

However, notice of the event was sent on Donohoe's House of Commons notepaper, which he can only use for parliamentary business.

Westminster allowances rules state: "Neither the Communications Allowance nor House stationery, including pre-paid envelopes, can be used for personal benefit or for party political activities or campaigning."

Any expenditure claimed, the rules add, must be "wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred for the purpose of performing your Parliamentary duties".

Respondents were asked to send their forms to the MP's parliamentary secretary, Ruth Brown, at his publicly-funded constituency office in Irvine. Her House of Commons email address was also provided as a point of contact. The price of a ticket includes "half a bottle of wine" per person.

An SNP spokesman said: "It would be astonishing if an MP of Brian Donohoe's experience was unaware that rules explicitly forbid the use of parliamentary resources for clear party political purposes. This looks like a matter that the Commons authorities will investigate."

Donohoe said he did "not have a clue" how many flyers had been sent out, adding: "It shouldn't have been sent on that notepaper. I gave instructions for that not to happen."

Donohoe is not the first MP to use public facilities for party business. Adam Ingram, the Labour member for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, last year sent a mailshot to Labour members on Commons notepaper.