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Hain not charged over donations Hain not charged over donations
(20 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 for the late declaration of £103,000 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 resigned in January to clear his name, came fifth in the contest in June 2007. Five months later he said some donations went undeclared.
Prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to charge him with anything. Following a police inquiry prosecutors said on Friday there was insufficient evidence to charge him with anything.
Former Welsh Secretary Mr Hain said he was pleased, after "ten months in limbo" to be able to clear his name. The Neath MP said after "ten months in limbo" he was happy 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. But asked if he would seek another government job, the former Welsh and work and pensions secretary told the BBC that was "a matter for the prime minister".
'Big jobs to do'
"I stepped down from the government to clear my name and now I'm pleased I have done so," he told BBC Radio Five Live.
"It is for the prime minister to decide whether he wants me to assist in the way that I have done in the past. I think there's big, big jobs to do to make sure that the country emerges from the global financial crisis and I think we're doing a good job trying to do that.
It all went wrong a lot later and obviously I paid a heavy price for that Peter Hain
"But a lot of effort is needed and I will be supporting the government in any way I can."
He told the programme that, long after the campaign had finished, "debts suddenly started appearing, bills started arriving that I knew nothing about".
"Instead of focussing on reporting the donations within the 30 days, I focused on trying to clear the debts. Then when I realised.. to my horror that we hadn't met the 30-day deadline, I immediately went to the Electoral Commission."
Takes responsibility
He said he had been "completely open" about what had happened and during four months of the campaign £80,000 had been declared in time.
"It all went wrong a lot later and obviously I paid a heavy price for that."
He said he took responsibility as the "top person" but it had been an honest mistake and he had received support from MPs across the party divide as well as his constituents.
On Friday Stephen O'Doherty of the Crown Prosecution Service said they could not prove Mr Hain, handled the unreported donations.
Mr Hain was not a signatory to that account and did not direct where funds should be spent Stephen O'DohertyCPS Michael Crick on David Abrahams
The CPS confirmed that no one else would be charged in connection with the investigation, which it said was now closed.The CPS confirmed that no one else would be charged in connection with the investigation, which it said was now closed.
'Not responsible' It 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.
In a statement, the CPS 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.
The organisation did not report all donations within the 30 days stipulated by the Political Parties and Referendums Act 2000.The organisation did not report all donations within the 30 days stipulated by the Political Parties and Referendums Act 2000.
But in order to prove a criminal breach of the Act, the CPS had to prove Mr Hain was a "regulated donee" - the person or organisation responsible for reporting political donations.But in order to prove a criminal breach of the Act, the CPS had to prove Mr Hain was a "regulated donee" - the person or organisation responsible for reporting political donations.
'Administrative error'
Under the rules, regulated donees do not have to be named individuals. Donations can be registered under the name of a "members' association," as was the case with Hain4Labour.Under the rules, regulated donees do not have to be named individuals. Donations can be registered under the name of a "members' association," as was the case with Hain4Labour.
But the CPS was unable to prove that Mr Hain was the "person responsible for dealing with donations to the association".But the CPS was unable to prove that Mr Hain was the "person responsible for dealing with donations to the association".
In a statement, Mr O'Doherty said: "Mr Hain was not a signatory to that account and did not direct where funds should be spent.In a statement, Mr O'Doherty said: "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."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 class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/michaelcrick">Michael Crick on David Abrahams 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.
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.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.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.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.
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. On Friday he thanked his constituents in Neath and his family for their "wonderful support".
"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."
He thanked his constituents in Neath and his family for their "wonderful support".