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Hain 'sorry' for donation errors | Hain 'sorry' for donation errors |
(about 14 hours later) | |
Cabinet minister Peter Hain has apologised for failing to register some of the donations given to his Labour deputy leadership campaign. | Cabinet minister Peter Hain has apologised for failing to register some of the donations given to his Labour deputy leadership campaign. |
The Work and Pensions Secretary said he blamed "administrative failings", which he described as "deeply regrettable". | The Work and Pensions Secretary said he blamed "administrative failings", which he described as "deeply regrettable". |
Although he declared donations of £82,000, the Guardian newspaper claims the real figure may be over £100,000. | Although he declared donations of £82,000, the Guardian newspaper claims the real figure may be over £100,000. |
Mr Hain said he had undertaken a full audit and would be providing the details to the Electoral Commission. | Mr Hain said he had undertaken a full audit and would be providing the details to the Electoral Commission. |
Campaign dinner | Campaign dinner |
The Neath MP, who is also Welsh Secretary, revealed at the end of November that he had failed to register a £5,000 donation from Jon Mendelsohn, Labour's chief fundraiser. | The Neath MP, who is also Welsh Secretary, revealed at the end of November that he had failed to register a £5,000 donation from Jon Mendelsohn, Labour's chief fundraiser. |
Then at the beginning of December, Mr Hain said other donations to his campaign "were not registered as they should have been", including a £1,300 campaign dinner. | Then at the beginning of December, Mr Hain said other donations to his campaign "were not registered as they should have been", including a £1,300 campaign dinner. |
At the time, he said he was reviewing all campaign donations and would be submitting a full declaration to the Electoral Commission. | At the time, he said he was reviewing all campaign donations and would be submitting a full declaration to the Electoral Commission. |
I reiterate that this is deeply regrettable and I sincerely apologise Peter HainWork and Pensions Secretary | I reiterate that this is deeply regrettable and I sincerely apologise Peter HainWork and Pensions Secretary |
The Guardian claims Mr Hain discovered that no donations had been registered after 4 May last year - six weeks before the deputy leadership contest ended. | The Guardian claims Mr Hain discovered that no donations had been registered after 4 May last year - six weeks before the deputy leadership contest ended. |
In a fresh statement following the Guardian's allegations, Mr Hain said: "As I said in December, as a result of administrative failings within my campaign there were donations to my deputy leadership bid which were not registered within the normal time, to the Electoral Commission. | In a fresh statement following the Guardian's allegations, Mr Hain said: "As I said in December, as a result of administrative failings within my campaign there were donations to my deputy leadership bid which were not registered within the normal time, to the Electoral Commission. |
"Since December I have undertaken a full audit of all donations to the campaign and have agreed with the Electoral Commission to provide the details of these late declarations to them, by the middle of January. | "Since December I have undertaken a full audit of all donations to the campaign and have agreed with the Electoral Commission to provide the details of these late declarations to them, by the middle of January. |
"I reiterate that this is deeply regrettable and I sincerely apologise." | "I reiterate that this is deeply regrettable and I sincerely apologise." |
Steve Morgan, who chaired Mr Hain's deputy leadership campaign, told BBC Radio Wales: "The issue here is how will all of us manage with donations that come into a campaign after the campaign has officially closed down? | |
"Peter has been very open about this whole process - more so than most - and I think he's been fully co-operative with the Electoral Commission over some of these key issues, which none of us have experienced before. Donations in kind being one of them." | |
Police inquiry | Police inquiry |
The Electoral Commission told the BBC that it has discussed the campaign's donations with Mr Hain personally and with his office. | The Electoral Commission told the BBC that it has discussed the campaign's donations with Mr Hain personally and with his office. |
However, it would not confirm whether a date had been set for the re-submission of the accounts. | However, it would not confirm whether a date had been set for the re-submission of the accounts. |
Mr Hain was one of six contenders for Labour's deputy leadership, which was eventually won by Harriet Harman. | Mr Hain was one of six contenders for Labour's deputy leadership, which was eventually won by Harriet Harman. |
A police inquiry is under way into proxy donations of more than £650,000 given to the Labour Party by property developer David Abrahams since 2003. | A police inquiry is under way into proxy donations of more than £650,000 given to the Labour Party by property developer David Abrahams since 2003. |
Mr Abrahams' donations broke electoral law because people must use their own names when giving more than £5,000 to political parties. | Mr Abrahams' donations broke electoral law because people must use their own names when giving more than £5,000 to political parties. |