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Hain not charged over donations Hain not charged over donations
(10 minutes later)
Former cabinet minister Peter Hain will not face charges over the late declaration of donations to his Labour deputy leadership bid.Former cabinet minister Peter Hain will not face charges over the late declaration of donations to his Labour deputy leadership bid.
Mr Hain, who quit the government in January to clear his name, was investigated over £103,000 declared late to the Electoral Commission.Mr Hain, who quit the government in January to clear his name, was investigated over £103,000 declared late to the Electoral Commission.
Prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to charge him with anything.Prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to charge him with anything.
Mr Hain said he was pleased, after "ten months in limbo" to have been able to clear his name. Former Welsh Secretary Mr Hain said he was pleased, after "ten months in limbo" to be able to clear his name.
On Friday Stephen O'Doherty of the Crown Prosecution Service said while donations were declared late, they could not prove Mr Hain handled the unreported donations. On Friday Stephen O'Doherty of the Crown Prosecution Service said while donations were declared late, they could not prove Mr Hain, handled the unreported donations.
Mr Hain ran to be Labour's deputy leader but came fifth out of six in the contest in the summer of 2007 and initially declared £77,000 in donations to the Electoral Commission. 'Not responsible'
Donations row In a statement, he said Mr Hain's campaign was run by a group called for "Hain4Labour", made up of Labour Party members, which had its own bank account.
But donations to the Labour Party came under the spotlight in November, when it emerged property developer David Abrahams had donated more than £650,000 using other people's names and police launched an investigation. "Mr Hain was not a signatory to that account and did not direct where funds should be spent.
"In light of this evidence, I have concluded that Mr Hain was not the 'regulated donee' and nor was he the person responsible for dealing with donations to the association under the terms of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000," he said.
I said all along that reporting some of the donations to my 2007 Labour party deputy Leader campaign late was an honest mistake - now everyone knows that it was Peter Hain Michael Crick on David AbrahamsI said all along that reporting some of the donations to my 2007 Labour party deputy Leader campaign late was an honest mistake - now everyone knows that it was Peter Hain Michael Crick on David Abrahams
Mr Hain, who was also work and pensions secretary, ran to be Labour's deputy leader but came fifth out of six in the contest in the summer of 2007 and initially declared £77,000 in donations to the Electoral Commission.
But donations to the Labour Party came under the spotlight in November, when it emerged property developer David Abrahams had donated more than £650,000 using other people's names and police launched an investigation.
Mr Hain's rival in the deputy leadership contest - and eventual winner - Harriet Harman had to pay back a £5,000 donation to her own campaign after discovering it had come from one of Mr Abrahams' associates.Mr Hain's rival in the deputy leadership contest - and eventual winner - Harriet Harman had to pay back a £5,000 donation to her own campaign after discovering it had come from one of Mr Abrahams' associates.
Think tank
Days later Mr Hain admitted donations to his own campaign were "not registered as they should have been".Days later Mr Hain admitted donations to his own campaign were "not registered as they should have been".
He initially said a £5,000 donation had been declared late because of an "administrative error". But in January he admitted £103,000 had not been declared, although none of them were from Mr Abrahams.He initially said a £5,000 donation had been declared late because of an "administrative error". But in January he admitted £103,000 had not been declared, although none of them were from Mr Abrahams.
Concern centred around the role of a little known think tank, the Progressive Policies Forum, which was used to channel more than £50,000 to his campaign.
It was set up three months after the launch of Mr Hain's campaign, and one trustee John Underwood, had been closely involved in the Hain campaign finances.
Under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 political donations need to be reported within 60 days of a donation being offered.Under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 political donations need to be reported within 60 days of a donation being offered.
A police investigation began and Mr Hain resigned from his cabinet post in January saying he had "made a mistake but it was an innocent mistake".A police investigation began and Mr Hain resigned from his cabinet post in January saying he had "made a mistake but it was an innocent mistake".
In a statement on Friday, Mr Hain said: "I chose to leave government to clear my name and I am pleased I have now done so.In a statement on Friday, Mr Hain said: "I chose to leave government to clear my name and I am pleased I have now done so.
"I said all along that reporting some of the donations to my 2007 Labour party deputy Leader campaign late was an honest mistake. Now everyone knows that it was."I said all along that reporting some of the donations to my 2007 Labour party deputy Leader campaign late was an honest mistake. Now everyone knows that it was.
"After ten months in limbo while the inquiry took its course, I now look forward to tackling again the issues of social justice, human rights and equality as I have done for all 40 years of my political life, both outside and inside government, from anti-apartheid protester to cabinet minister.""After ten months in limbo while the inquiry took its course, I now look forward to tackling again the issues of social justice, human rights and equality as I have done for all 40 years of my political life, both outside and inside government, from anti-apartheid protester to cabinet minister."
He thanked his constituents in Neath and his family for their "wonderful support".He thanked his constituents in Neath and his family for their "wonderful support".