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Cameron warns Hain over donations | Cameron warns Hain over donations |
(about 1 hour later) | |
David Cameron has warned Peter Hain's "time will be up" if he fails to answer all questions about his failure to declare £103,000 of donations. | David Cameron has warned Peter Hain's "time will be up" if he fails to answer all questions about his failure to declare £103,000 of donations. |
The Tory leader said Work and Pensions and Welsh Secretary Mr Hain "will have to go", if he cannot explain himself. | The Tory leader said Work and Pensions and Welsh Secretary Mr Hain "will have to go", if he cannot explain himself. |
Mr Hain blamed "poor administration" for failing to declare the donations to his Labour deputy leader bid last year. | Mr Hain blamed "poor administration" for failing to declare the donations to his Labour deputy leader bid last year. |
Mr Cameron defended shadow chancellor George Osborne, who is accused of not properly declaring £487,000. | Mr Cameron defended shadow chancellor George Osborne, who is accused of not properly declaring £487,000. |
The Mail on Sunday reported that Mr Osborne did not declare the donations towards running his shadow ministerial office to the Register of Members' Interests. | The Mail on Sunday reported that Mr Osborne did not declare the donations towards running his shadow ministerial office to the Register of Members' Interests. |
'Completely different' | 'Completely different' |
But Mr Cameron told BBC One's Andrew Marr programme that was a "completely different" matter, as Mr Osborne had declared the money to the Electoral Commission. | But Mr Cameron told BBC One's Andrew Marr programme that was a "completely different" matter, as Mr Osborne had declared the money to the Electoral Commission. |
Mr Cameron said the Conservatives had sought advice on whether to also declare the money to the members' register - and been effectively told they did not have to. | Mr Cameron said the Conservatives had sought advice on whether to also declare the money to the members' register - and been effectively told they did not have to. |
I think if he goes on like yesterday I think his time will be up David Cameron | I think if he goes on like yesterday I think his time will be up David Cameron |
"All these donations are declared and published by the Electoral Commission," he said. | "All these donations are declared and published by the Electoral Commission," he said. |
In a statement on Saturday Mr Hain, who came fifth out of six contenders in the race to succeed John Prescott last year, blamed poor administration for his failure to declare £103,000 in donations to the Electoral Commission - he did declare £82,000. | In a statement on Saturday Mr Hain, who came fifth out of six contenders in the race to succeed John Prescott last year, blamed poor administration for his failure to declare £103,000 in donations to the Electoral Commission - he did declare £82,000. |
But he said to suggest he had attempted to hide anything was "absurd" and said all those who had contributed were "eligible and legally entitled to do so". | But he said to suggest he had attempted to hide anything was "absurd" and said all those who had contributed were "eligible and legally entitled to do so". |
'Explain yourself' | 'Explain yourself' |
He did not answer any questions following his statement - despite questions about the role of the Progressive Policies Forum think-tank, which channelled money to his deputy leadership bid. | He did not answer any questions following his statement - despite questions about the role of the Progressive Policies Forum think-tank, which channelled money to his deputy leadership bid. |
On Sunday, Mr Cameron told the BBC: "I think if he goes on like yesterday I think his time will be up. | On Sunday, Mr Cameron told the BBC: "I think if he goes on like yesterday I think his time will be up. |
George Osborne is a close friend of Tory leader David Cameron | George Osborne is a close friend of Tory leader David Cameron |
"I think it's no good when all these questions are being asked just to sort of come out and read out a statement and then scurry back indoors again." | "I think it's no good when all these questions are being asked just to sort of come out and read out a statement and then scurry back indoors again." |
He added: "If I was in the prime minister's shoes I would say to Peter Hain: 'Look, you've got to get out there, you've got to explain yourself; you've got to answer all of the questions and if you can do that, then maybe your job is safe but if you can't you will have to go.'" | He added: "If I was in the prime minister's shoes I would say to Peter Hain: 'Look, you've got to get out there, you've got to explain yourself; you've got to answer all of the questions and if you can do that, then maybe your job is safe but if you can't you will have to go.'" |
'Administrative shortcomings' | 'Administrative shortcomings' |
But on the same programme, Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown defended Mr Hain adding: "I think these so far are shown to be just administrative shortcomings and, as you've reported in this programme today, the shadow chancellor has similar problems. | But on the same programme, Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown defended Mr Hain adding: "I think these so far are shown to be just administrative shortcomings and, as you've reported in this programme today, the shadow chancellor has similar problems. |
"It seems to me we've set up a party funding system which is set up to fail in a way." | "It seems to me we've set up a party funding system which is set up to fail in a way." |
Schools Minister Jim Knight also told Sky News Mr Hain should not resign over what was "an administrative problem". | Schools Minister Jim Knight also told Sky News Mr Hain should not resign over what was "an administrative problem". |
But the Lib Dems' schools spokesman David Laws said that Mr Hain's position looked "increasingly unsustainable". | But the Lib Dems' schools spokesman David Laws said that Mr Hain's position looked "increasingly unsustainable". |
The problems with donations to Mr Hain's campaign emerged at the end of November, amid a separate row involving donations by proxy to the Labour Party over several years. | The problems with donations to Mr Hain's campaign emerged at the end of November, amid a separate row involving donations by proxy to the Labour Party over several years. |
This is yet another example of the hypocrisy of the Tory party Labour MP Kevan Jones Send us your comments | This is yet another example of the hypocrisy of the Tory party Labour MP Kevan Jones Send us your comments |
He said he had discovered a £5,000 donation to his deputy leadership bid had not been properly declared but days later said other donations had not been properly reported either. | He said he had discovered a £5,000 donation to his deputy leadership bid had not been properly declared but days later said other donations had not been properly reported either. |
Last week he gave a full list of undeclared donations to the Electoral Commission, totalling £103,156. | Last week he gave a full list of undeclared donations to the Electoral Commission, totalling £103,156. |
Meanwhile Mr Osborne is reported to have received money from some of Britain's wealthiest people to help run his shadow ministerial office. | Meanwhile Mr Osborne is reported to have received money from some of Britain's wealthiest people to help run his shadow ministerial office. |
Tory 'hypocrisy' | Tory 'hypocrisy' |
The funds are said to have been channelled to Mr Osborne's office through Conservative headquarters after the donors requested he received a specific sum. | The funds are said to have been channelled to Mr Osborne's office through Conservative headquarters after the donors requested he received a specific sum. |
Mr Cameron said steps were taken to check where the donations had to be declared with Commons officials and they had been told "effectively, they don't need to be declared". | |
Mr Osborne is now seeking a ruling from the Commons standards committee on the matter. | Mr Osborne is now seeking a ruling from the Commons standards committee on the matter. |
But Labour MP Kevan Jones told the Mail on Sunday: "This is yet another example of the hypocrisy of the Tory party, who lecture others on probity and donations yet have myriad scams disguising the true funders of their party." | But Labour MP Kevan Jones told the Mail on Sunday: "This is yet another example of the hypocrisy of the Tory party, who lecture others on probity and donations yet have myriad scams disguising the true funders of their party." |
Meanwhile a poll in the Sunday Times suggests the Conservatives have doubled their lead over Labour in the last two weeks, to 10 points. | |
The Yougov online survey of 2,139 electors on 10 and 11 January put the Tories on 43%, Labour on 33% and the Lib Dems on 14%. |