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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Hain fate 'out of Brown's hands' | Hain fate 'out of Brown's hands' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Gordon Brown has given his backing to under-fire Peter Hain, but said the minister's fate was out of his hands. | |
| Speaking to The Sun newspaper, the prime minister said Mr Hain was doing a "great job" and it would be a "great loss" if he had to leave the Cabinet. | Speaking to The Sun newspaper, the prime minister said Mr Hain was doing a "great job" and it would be a "great loss" if he had to leave the Cabinet. |
| But Mr Brown said the fate of the work and pensions secretary would be decided by officials investigating his actions. | But Mr Brown said the fate of the work and pensions secretary would be decided by officials investigating his actions. |
| Mr Hain blamed "poor administration" for his failure to declare political donations totalling £103,000. | Mr Hain blamed "poor administration" for his failure to declare political donations totalling £103,000. |
| Mr Brown told the Sun that he expected Mr Hain to carry on in government. | Mr Brown told the Sun that he expected Mr Hain to carry on in government. |
| But he said ultimately it was up to the Electoral Commission and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to decide. | But he said ultimately it was up to the Electoral Commission and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to decide. |
| "He took his eye off the ball and he has apologised. The matter must rest with the authorities, who will look at these matters," Mr Brown said. | "He took his eye off the ball and he has apologised. The matter must rest with the authorities, who will look at these matters," Mr Brown said. |
| Tories too | Tories too |
| Earlier, Conservative leader David Cameron accused Mr Brown of "dithering" on the issue and said Mr Hain would "have to go" if he could not explain himself. | Earlier, Conservative leader David Cameron accused Mr Brown of "dithering" on the issue and said Mr Hain would "have to go" if he could not explain himself. |
| But the Tories have been accused of hypocrisy after it was reported that shadow chancellor George Osborne did not declare £487,000 of donations to the Register of Members' Interests. | But the Tories have been accused of hypocrisy after it was reported that shadow chancellor George Osborne did not declare £487,000 of donations to the Register of Members' Interests. |
| Mr Cameron said that was a "completely different" matter, as the money had been declared to, and published by, the Electoral Commission. | Mr Cameron said that was a "completely different" matter, as the money had been declared to, and published by, the Electoral Commission. |
| George Osborne is a close friend of Tory leader David Cameron | George Osborne is a close friend of Tory leader David Cameron |
| Mr Osborne is now seeking a ruling from the Commons standards committee. | Mr Osborne is now seeking a ruling from the Commons standards committee. |
| Mr Hain, who is also Welsh secretary, failed to declare £103,000 which was donated to his unsuccessful campaign to become deputy Labour leader last year. | Mr Hain, who is also Welsh secretary, failed to declare £103,000 which was donated to his unsuccessful campaign to become deputy Labour leader last year. |
| The problems with the campaign's funding emerged at the end of November, amid a separate row involving donations by proxy to the Labour Party over several years. | The problems with the campaign's funding emerged at the end of November, amid a separate row involving donations by proxy to the Labour Party over several years. |
| Mr Hain has said it was "absurd" to suggest he attempted to hide anything, but he faces questions over the role of a think-tank, the Progressive Policies Forum, in channelling donations. | Mr Hain has said it was "absurd" to suggest he attempted to hide anything, but he faces questions over the role of a think-tank, the Progressive Policies Forum, in channelling donations. |
| The think-tank employs no staff and has not published any research since it was set up in December 2006. | The think-tank employs no staff and has not published any research since it was set up in December 2006. |
| Several senior Labour figures, including Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown, have given their support to Mr Hain, insisting he should not resign over "administrative shortcomings". | Several senior Labour figures, including Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown, have given their support to Mr Hain, insisting he should not resign over "administrative shortcomings". |
| But Plaid Cymru have called for Mr Hain to step down. | But Plaid Cymru have called for Mr Hain to step down. |
| On Sunday, Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik said politicians calling for Mr Hain to quit were "opportunists" and no party was blameless on party funding. | On Sunday, Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik said politicians calling for Mr Hain to quit were "opportunists" and no party was blameless on party funding. |