Peter Hain: Cock-up doesn't fit the bill
Yes, I know I said in a previous post this is a Peter Hain free blog, however, the most recent revelation need posting on. To be perfectly honest, I'm now even more annoyed with myself for having to be in complete agreement with Elfyn Llwyd MP - The Secretary of State's position is untenable.
Plaid Cymru has called for Peter Hain's resignation after fresh revelations about the funding of his failed Labour deputy leadership bid. Elfyn Llwyd, Plaid's parliamentary leader, said the work and pensions secretary's position was "untenable".
The call comes after it emerged a trustee of a think tank which channelled £25,000 into Mr Hain's bid was also the campaign's treasurer. The cash in the form of five donations was not declared to the authorities.
Mr Hain, who is also Welsh secretary and MP for Neath, is under fire after failing to declare more than £100,000 in donations to his deputy leadership campaign. More than £25,000 in donations and a further loan of £25,000 were made by individuals through the Progressive Policy Forum, a little-known think tank, which does not have a website and whose registered address is a solicitor's office in London.
A spokeswoman for Mr Hain said that he stands by everything he said in his statement and will not be making any further comment.
Plaid's Mr Llwyd told BBC Wales the latest revelations meant Mr Hain's position was no longer tenable:
John Underwood was treasurer of the campaign - he must have known of donations...Yesterday I didn't say Mr Hain should consider his position, but today's revelations are dynamite...More than sorrow than in anger, I am forced to say his position is untenable...This appears to be playing fast and lose with the law and cabinet ministers can't do that.Update 1: Peter Hain has been reported to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner for failing to declare £103,156 in gifts to his Labour deputy leader bid.
Update 2: According to David Cornock (BBC Wales) "One of the actual donors involved may ring a few bells. His name is Steve Morgan. It appears that Peter Hain's campaign manager - the man who claimed to bring order to chaos - failed to declare a donation from himself."
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14 comments:
He'll be lucky to survive this. I can't see him quitting as he enjoys the power and lifestyle too much to return to the backbenches. Hain will only quit if Gordon tells him to and gives him no other option.
"There are NO IFS, NO BUTS when it comes to ... fraud. Deliberately withholding information that affects your claim is stealing." So says the Department for Work & Pensions on its website page devoted to benefit fraud.
What's the difference between Peter Hain and a blanket?
Sh*t sticks to the blanket.
How on earth can you spend more than 100 Grand on an election and lose when the others didn't spend anywhere near that?
Isn't he liked in the Labour party
Oh, let's just get the Tories back.
Even with £200k behind his bid, he finished fifth out of six. Does this tell you something...
Bye, bye Peter
Hain is damaging the whole of UK politics, not just the Government. Ultimately he is just another nail in the coffin of political integrity in this country.
Does it open up a can of worms if he's sacked? YES!!!
1. His excuse is that he cannot be expected to competent enough to organize an election campaign for an INTERNAL party position that operates within the law.
BUT he is competent enough hold two offices of state in a Labour government. …enough said.
2. He broke the law by not declaring campaign funds with 30 days.
3. He also broke Parliamentary rules by no declaring it in member’s interests.
4. If he cannot provide detailed precise and auditable accounts of income and expenditure for is campaign he would appear to be in receipt of undeclared taxable income. A CRIMINAL offence.
5. He took more time to investigate this income (10 to 20 donations) than it takes to audit a FTSE 100 company. What does that say?
I watched a report on Sky news and all we are hearing is that really he is a good man and has just made a simple mistake. What a load of tosh! 100,000 pounds! Ah come on who's kidding who?
How can anyone take money from Isaac Kaye given his track record? This will run and run until Hain steps down and he should realise this. What happens when Kaye's former company appears in court later this year to be charged with conspiracy to defraud NHS? All the news reports will remind the world that Kaye donated £15k to hain's campaign. Hain has had agood run but he really believes in the Labour party then it is time to go. It is astonishing that Hain could be associated with someone like Kaye who when he lived in South Afrca supported the pro apartheid National party.
why if this is 'an administrative cock up' is Peter Hain in hiding if he hasn't done anything wrong?
So when the next benefit cheat is dragged in front of a court for working while on Job Seekers, can he claim "administrative errors" for failing to report his change of circumstances?
http://amlwchmagor.blogspot.com/
Hen Ferchetan - Job Seekers up and down the country will be trying that one from Monday.
I'm positive that Pippa will add you to her blog when she returns from a short break.
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