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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Defiant Hain 'to get on with job' | Defiant Hain 'to get on with job' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Peter Hain has apologised for "the embarrassment caused by poor administration" but insisted that he wants to get on with his cabinet jobs. | |
| Mr Hain has been under pressure over the failure to declare on time more than £100,000 donated to his failed bid to become Labour's deputy leader. | Mr Hain has been under pressure over the failure to declare on time more than £100,000 donated to his failed bid to become Labour's deputy leader. |
| The work and pensions and Welsh secretary said he was "more than happy" for inquiries to "take their course". | The work and pensions and Welsh secretary said he was "more than happy" for inquiries to "take their course". |
| In a statement he said the idea he had attempted "to hide anything is absurd". | In a statement he said the idea he had attempted "to hide anything is absurd". |
| He said that all those who had donated money to his campaign "are eligible and legally entitled to do so". | He said that all those who had donated money to his campaign "are eligible and legally entitled to do so". |
| Think-tank | |
| Mr Hain also said the senior civil servant at the Department for Work and Pensions was "satisfied" that none of the donations had breached the ministerial code. | Mr Hain also said the senior civil servant at the Department for Work and Pensions was "satisfied" that none of the donations had breached the ministerial code. |
| Pressure has been growing on Mr Hain after he disclosed on Thursday that he had failed to declare £103,000 in donations - on top of the £82,000 he did declare. | Pressure has been growing on Mr Hain after he disclosed on Thursday that he had failed to declare £103,000 in donations - on top of the £82,000 he did declare. |
| I make no apology for being a committed candidate in Labour's deputy leadership campaign or for raising the funds necessary to run a modern campaign Peter HainWork and Pensions Secretary In full: Hain's statament | |
| Mr Hain, who finished fifth of six in the race to succeed John Prescott as Labour's deputy leader, blamed his government responsibilities for distracting him from the running of his campaign. | Mr Hain, who finished fifth of six in the race to succeed John Prescott as Labour's deputy leader, blamed his government responsibilities for distracting him from the running of his campaign. |
| There were also questions over the role of the Progressive Policies Forum think-tank, which channelled money to his deputy leadership bid. | |
| Mr Hain said all PPF donors were asked if funds could be transferred but the BBC understands two donors were not told it was going towards his campaign. | |
| The think-tank, which is virtually unknown, was set up three months after the launch of Mr Hain's campaign and counts John Underwood, who was closely involved in financing the Hain campaign, as a trustee. | |
| In his statement, delivered to reporters outside his Neath constituency home Mr Hain said that it was after the end of the campaign that "the extent of outstanding debt became apparent to me". | |
| 'No apology' | |
| He said: "I was not involved in establishing the Progressive Policies Forum but it was prepared and able to assist in making donations to the campaign and did so." | |
| Mr Hain said he was also "now making immediate arrangements" to repay a £25,000 interest-free loan from PPF. | |
| The failure to declare such large amounts has led to inquiries being launched by the Electoral Commission and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. | |
| Ahead of Mr Hain's statement Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg told the BBC: "From what I've heard I can't really distinguish between what appears to be either utter incompetence in the way his campaign was run, or deliberate obfuscation." | |
| In his statement, which he read out without taking questions, Mr Hain said: "I apologise for the embarrassment caused by poor administration and lack of early and clear disclosure. | |
| "However I make no apology for being a committed candidate in Labour's deputy leadership campaign or for raising the funds necessary to run a modern campaign. | |
| "I am more than happy for the inquiries by the Electoral Commission and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to take their course and meanwhile I will get on with my cabinet jobs." |