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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Hain donations 'an incompetence' | Hain donations 'an incompetence' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain was guilty of "an incompetence" over donations to his Labour deputy leader campaign, Gordon Brown has said. | Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain was guilty of "an incompetence" over donations to his Labour deputy leader campaign, Gordon Brown has said. |
| The Electoral Commission is looking into the late declaration of £103,000 in donations to Mr Hain. | The Electoral Commission is looking into the late declaration of £103,000 in donations to Mr Hain. |
| The PM told ITV's News at Ten Mr Hain, who faces MPs' Wales questions later, made a mistake he had "readily admitted to" but there had been "no corruption". | |
| But Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said his political credibility was "in tatters". | |
| It was a mistake that was made. It was an incompetence that he has readily admitted to Gordon Brown Q&A: The row explained | It was a mistake that was made. It was an incompetence that he has readily admitted to Gordon Brown Q&A: The row explained |
| One of the options open to the commission - the official elections watchdog - is to refer the matter to the police if it believes the law has been broken. | One of the options open to the commission - the official elections watchdog - is to refer the matter to the police if it believes the law has been broken. |
| Mr Hain, who is also Welsh secretary, is also being investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. | Mr Hain, who is also Welsh secretary, is also being investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. |
| Mr Brown expressed hope that Mr Hain would escape serious punishment. | Mr Brown expressed hope that Mr Hain would escape serious punishment. |
| Nothing illegal | Nothing illegal |
| "It was a mistake that was made. It was an incompetence that he has readily admitted to," he said. | "It was a mistake that was made. It was an incompetence that he has readily admitted to," he said. |
| "This now goes before the standards committee in the House of Commons, and before the Electoral Commission. | "This now goes before the standards committee in the House of Commons, and before the Electoral Commission. |
| Whatever the Electoral Commission now decides, Peter Hain's political credibility lies in tatters Nick CleggLib Dem leader | |
| "And I believe they will understand that this was a failure, that there was no corruption involved, that there was no illegal donation made, and I hope that they will be able to accept his apology." | "And I believe they will understand that this was a failure, that there was no corruption involved, that there was no illegal donation made, and I hope that they will be able to accept his apology." |
| The Electoral Commission is investigating Mr Hain's failure to inform it of the donations under party funding laws. | The Electoral Commission is investigating Mr Hain's failure to inform it of the donations under party funding laws. |
| Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon has launched a separate inquiry into whether the Neath MP broke House of Commons rules by failing to declare the gifts in the register of members' interests. | Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon has launched a separate inquiry into whether the Neath MP broke House of Commons rules by failing to declare the gifts in the register of members' interests. |
| Think tank | Think tank |
| Mr Hain, who came fifth in the six-candidate Labour deputy contest, has insisted he has been "open and clear" about the issue and says he will co-operate with any inquiry. | Mr Hain, who came fifth in the six-candidate Labour deputy contest, has insisted he has been "open and clear" about the issue and says he will co-operate with any inquiry. |
| The commission is expected to produce its initial findings by the end of the week, with a full report coming later. | The commission is expected to produce its initial findings by the end of the week, with a full report coming later. |
| The Liberal Democrats' leader, Nick Clegg said: "When Gordon Brown said he wanted a government of all the talents, no-one realised that incompetence was going to be one of them. | |
| "Whatever the Electoral Commission now decides, Peter Hain's political credibility lies in tatters." | |
| Conservative leader David Cameron has said Mr Hain still has questions to answer, adding: "He can get out there and explain himself or I think he will have to leave the cabinet." | |
| Mr Hain also faces questions over the role of a think-tank, the Progressive Policies Forum (PPF), in channelling donations. | Mr Hain also faces questions over the role of a think-tank, the Progressive Policies Forum (PPF), in channelling donations. |
| The PPF employs no staff and has not published any research since it was set up in December 2006, three months after Mr Hain launched his campaign. | The PPF employs no staff and has not published any research since it was set up in December 2006, three months after Mr Hain launched his campaign. |
| Mr Hain's constituency Labour Party in Neath is due to meet on Wednesday to discuss the affair. | Mr Hain's constituency Labour Party in Neath is due to meet on Wednesday to discuss the affair. |