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| PM calls on Glenys Kinnock, Hain | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Retiring Euro MP Glenys Kinnock is to join Gordon Brown's government as Europe Minister. | |
| She joins her husband in the House of Lords and will replace Caroline Flint, who has resigned. | |
| Meanwhile, Peter Hain is returning to the Cabinet to replace Paul Murphy as Welsh Secretary. | |
| Mr Hain said: "I have returned to the Cabinet to help ensure that we recover from a dreadful period for Labour and for parliamentary democracy." | Mr Hain said: "I have returned to the Cabinet to help ensure that we recover from a dreadful period for Labour and for parliamentary democracy." |
| Mrs Kinnock, 64, became an MEP in 1994, before stepping down before Thursday's elections. | |
| Her husband Neil Kinnock, the former Labour leader, joined the House of Lords in 2005 after serving as a European Commissioner. | |
| Neath MP Mr Hain's return to government follows nearly 18 months away. | |
| He resigned in January 2008 to clear his name over the declaration of £103,000 of donations in his bid to become deputy Labour leader. | |
| He added that the party had to "rebuild trust". | He added that the party had to "rebuild trust". |
| Mr Hain, 59, who had previously been Welsh Secretary from 2002 to 2008, succeeds Paul Murphy at the Wales Office. | Mr Hain, 59, who had previously been Welsh Secretary from 2002 to 2008, succeeds Paul Murphy at the Wales Office. |
| Speaking from his Neath constituency, Mr Hain added: "For a Welsh MP it is a real privilege to be Secretary of State for Wales again and I pay tribute to Paul Murphy who has been a close and valued friend for nearly 20 years and an outstanding servant of the Labour Party." | Speaking from his Neath constituency, Mr Hain added: "For a Welsh MP it is a real privilege to be Secretary of State for Wales again and I pay tribute to Paul Murphy who has been a close and valued friend for nearly 20 years and an outstanding servant of the Labour Party." |
| "I have returned to the cabinet to help ensure that we recover from a dreadful period for Labour and for parliamentary democracy. | "I have returned to the cabinet to help ensure that we recover from a dreadful period for Labour and for parliamentary democracy. |
| "We must rebuild trust and explain to the British people the serious dangers of the Tories' old right wing policies, especially their plans for savage public spending cuts." | "We must rebuild trust and explain to the British people the serious dangers of the Tories' old right wing policies, especially their plans for savage public spending cuts." |
| I have been very proud to have served in Gordon Brown's cabinet for the past 17 months, and I fully support his remaining as our Prime Minister Paul Murphy MP, outgoing Welsh Secretary | I have been very proud to have served in Gordon Brown's cabinet for the past 17 months, and I fully support his remaining as our Prime Minister Paul Murphy MP, outgoing Welsh Secretary |
| Mr Hain, who had also previously been Work and Pensions Secretary, was found to be guilty of "serious and substantial" failures in not registering donations, the Commons standards watchdog found. | Mr Hain, who had also previously been Work and Pensions Secretary, was found to be guilty of "serious and substantial" failures in not registering donations, the Commons standards watchdog found. |
| He apologised and said his mistakes had been honest. | He apologised and said his mistakes had been honest. |
| Late on Thursday, Mr Hain's successor at the department of work and pensions, James Purnell left the cabinet, and urged Gordon Brown to stand aside. | Late on Thursday, Mr Hain's successor at the department of work and pensions, James Purnell left the cabinet, and urged Gordon Brown to stand aside. |
| Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan said Mr Hain's appointment was "another sign of Labour looking to the past when what we need is a fresh start." | Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan said Mr Hain's appointment was "another sign of Labour looking to the past when what we need is a fresh start." |
| "Instead of looking forwards they are turning to the past," she said. | "Instead of looking forwards they are turning to the past," she said. |
| "Peter Hain has hardly been a cheerleader for the Brown government, yet is more than willing to take a job off him." | "Peter Hain has hardly been a cheerleader for the Brown government, yet is more than willing to take a job off him." |
| Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams added: "Gordon Brown is desperate to find anybody who will sit quietly within his last-chance saloon cabinet and is unable to find Labour MPs who have the fresh perspective and clean record to signal a genuine change of direction towards a better politics." | Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams added: "Gordon Brown is desperate to find anybody who will sit quietly within his last-chance saloon cabinet and is unable to find Labour MPs who have the fresh perspective and clean record to signal a genuine change of direction towards a better politics." |
| Plaid Cymru's leader in Westminster Eflyn Llwyd MP said Mr Hain was a "familiar face" in Welsh politics and had played an important role in constitutional development. | Plaid Cymru's leader in Westminster Eflyn Llwyd MP said Mr Hain was a "familiar face" in Welsh politics and had played an important role in constitutional development. |
| "But today's frantic Cabinet reshuffle is not going to solve the crisis currently engulfing Westminster," said Mr Llwyd. | "But today's frantic Cabinet reshuffle is not going to solve the crisis currently engulfing Westminster," said Mr Llwyd. |
| "This is just re-arranging deckchairs on the Titanic." | "This is just re-arranging deckchairs on the Titanic." |
| Paul Flynn says the prime minister has been 'indecisive and defensive' | Paul Flynn says the prime minister has been 'indecisive and defensive' |
| Earlier, a Welsh Labour MP joined the calls from within his party for Mr Brown to step down. | Earlier, a Welsh Labour MP joined the calls from within his party for Mr Brown to step down. |
| Newport West MP Paul Flynn said the Prime Minister was "indecisive" over MPs' expenses and should make a "swift and orderly exit". | Newport West MP Paul Flynn said the Prime Minister was "indecisive" over MPs' expenses and should make a "swift and orderly exit". |
| But the outgoing Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy added his support for Mr Brown. | But the outgoing Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy added his support for Mr Brown. |
| "I have been very proud to have served in Gordon Brown's cabinet for the past 17 months, and I fully support his remaining as our Prime Minister. | "I have been very proud to have served in Gordon Brown's cabinet for the past 17 months, and I fully support his remaining as our Prime Minister. |
| "Whatever difficulties we have faced in the past month, the fact remains that it is Labour values that are best placed to help our nation through the global downturn and reform our political system." | "Whatever difficulties we have faced in the past month, the fact remains that it is Labour values that are best placed to help our nation through the global downturn and reform our political system." |
| Ahead of the reshuffle, there was also support from Mr Brown from other MPs in Wales. | Ahead of the reshuffle, there was also support from Mr Brown from other MPs in Wales. |
| Wales Office minister Wayne David called him the best person to lead the country. | Wales Office minister Wayne David called him the best person to lead the country. |
| Mr David told BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye programme that Mr Purnell was part of a "very small and distinct minority", and the "silent majority" in the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) continued to support the prime minister. | Mr David told BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye programme that Mr Purnell was part of a "very small and distinct minority", and the "silent majority" in the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) continued to support the prime minister. |
| He said he was "absolutely convinced" Mr Brown would lead the party into the next election. | He said he was "absolutely convinced" Mr Brown would lead the party into the next election. |
| "He's unquestionably the best person to lead this country. I believe not only ministers recognise that but I believe the overwhelming mass of Labour MPs believe that as well," said Mr David, the Caerphilly MP. | "He's unquestionably the best person to lead this country. I believe not only ministers recognise that but I believe the overwhelming mass of Labour MPs believe that as well," said Mr David, the Caerphilly MP. |
| "Many ministers, many members of the Parliamentary Labour Party stand absolutely firmly behind Gordon Brown. | "Many ministers, many members of the Parliamentary Labour Party stand absolutely firmly behind Gordon Brown. |
| "He's got the policies, the perspective and the strength to take us forward." | "He's got the policies, the perspective and the strength to take us forward." |
| But Mr Flynn said he hoped that Mr Brown accepted "the expected majority opinion of the Parliamentary Labour Party and he makes a swift and orderly exit". | But Mr Flynn said he hoped that Mr Brown accepted "the expected majority opinion of the Parliamentary Labour Party and he makes a swift and orderly exit". |
| "He's been heavy-footed, indecisive and defensive on MPs' expenses and many MPs have been unhappy with that. There is now a wide coalition asking for change in the PLP," added Mr Flynn. | "He's been heavy-footed, indecisive and defensive on MPs' expenses and many MPs have been unhappy with that. There is now a wide coalition asking for change in the PLP," added Mr Flynn. |
| Labour's Kevin Brennan, Cardiff West MP and parliamentary under secretary in the cabinet office, said he was surprised by Mr Purnell's resignation which he thought was unnecessary and out of line with the feelings of the PLP. | Labour's Kevin Brennan, Cardiff West MP and parliamentary under secretary in the cabinet office, said he was surprised by Mr Purnell's resignation which he thought was unnecessary and out of line with the feelings of the PLP. |
| Dai Havard, Labour MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, said that bigger names than Mr Purnell might be required to resign from the cabinet in order for Mr Brown to stand down. | Dai Havard, Labour MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, said that bigger names than Mr Purnell might be required to resign from the cabinet in order for Mr Brown to stand down. |
| "It's going to be an interesting few days but I think heavier hitters will need to come forward if Gordon Brown is to stand down. | "It's going to be an interesting few days but I think heavier hitters will need to come forward if Gordon Brown is to stand down. |
| "It will be interesting to see what the people around (Lord) Mandelson do. If they start moving, who knows?" he said. | "It will be interesting to see what the people around (Lord) Mandelson do. If they start moving, who knows?" he said. |
| Nia Griffiths Labour MP for Llanelli reiterated her support for Gordon Brown. She told BBC Radio Cymru hat a large majority of MPs as well as the public were in favour of a stable government and an experienced prime minister. | Nia Griffiths Labour MP for Llanelli reiterated her support for Gordon Brown. She told BBC Radio Cymru hat a large majority of MPs as well as the public were in favour of a stable government and an experienced prime minister. |
| Meanwhile, Pembrokeshire Council which is co-ordinating European election results for the whole of Wales says the turnout in Wales on Thursday was 30.5%. | Meanwhile, Pembrokeshire Council which is co-ordinating European election results for the whole of Wales says the turnout in Wales on Thursday was 30.5%. |