Timeline: Hain funding row

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7182846.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Key events in the funding saga which has led to the resignation of Peter Hain from the Cabinet:

12 September 2006: Wales and Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain announces he will run to become deputy leader of the Labour Party when John Prescott stands down.<a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5337604.stm">Labour deputy race gathers pace</a>

5 December 2006: The Progressive Policy Forum think tank is set up. One of its trustees, John Underwood, is closely involved in the financing of Mr Hain's campaign.

20 May 2007: Nationwide hustings involving the six contenders to be Labour's deputy leader begin. Gordon Brown, the only candidate for leader, also takes part. <a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6673719.stm">Iraq decision was right - Brown</a>

1 June: Contest nominations close. <a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6712781.stm">Local Labour parties 'back Benn'</a>

6 June: Ballot papers are sent out to Labour members, trade unionists and Labour MEPs. <a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6724251.stm">Labour contest ballots sent out</a>

8 June 2007: Mr Hain's campaign places a full-page advertisement in the Daily Mirror, thought to cost about £25,000.

22 June: Deadline for the return of ballots.

24 June: Justice Minister Harriet Harman wins the Labour deputy leadership, with Mr Hain coming fifth out of six candidates. <a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6234692.stm">Harman wins deputy leader contest</a>

29 November: After the Electoral Commission announced it had referred the matter of Labour's disguised donations to the police "for further investigation", Mr Hain admits he failed to register a £5,000 donation by Labour's chief fundraiser Jon Mendelsohn to his deputy leadership campaign. Mr Hain blames the failure on an "administrative error". <a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7120512.stm">Hain declares deputy leader gift</a>

1 December: Gordon Brown promises to push forward reform of the entire political party funding system. <a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7122393.stm">PM vows wholesale funding reform</a>

3 December: It emerges that a fundraising dinner for prominent Welsh businessmen was held as part of Mr Hain's campaign.

The dinner was paid for by Huw Roberts, a former aide to former Welsh Secretary Ron Davies. Mr Roberts tells BBC Wales he spent £1,300 to host the event, at the Park House Club in Cardiff on 23 April. The contribution in kind was not declared by the Hain campaign. Mr Hain reveals that further donations "were not registered as they should have been". He says he informed the Electoral Commission and will review all donations to his campaign and prepare a full declaration. <a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7125770.stm">Hain admits more donations errors</a>

8 January 2008: The Guardian newspaper reports that no donations to Mr Hain's deputy leadership bid were declared after 4 May last year - six weeks before the end of the campaign.<a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7176152.stm">Hain 'sorry' for donations errors</a>

10 January: Mr Hain admits he failed to declare more than £103,000 in donations, blaming his government responsibilities for distracting him from the running of his bid for the deputy leadership. He says the 17 donations, including £10,000 from Mike Cuddy, who runs Neath-based building contractor the Cuddy Group and £10,000 from the GMB trade union, all came from people who were "legally entitled" to contribute. Five of the donations, totalling £25,000, and one £25,000 loan were made through the Progressive Policy Forum think tank, according to the Electoral Commission.<a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7180961.stm">Hain reveals £103k not declared</a><a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/wales/7179528.stm">Ex-Hain official denies 'chaos'</a>

11 January: The Conservatives accuse Mr Hain of "breathtaking incompetence". Tory Monmouth MP David Davies confirms he complained to the parliamentary commissioner for standards about the failure to declare donations. The Electoral Commission also launches an investigation. Plaid Cymru says Mr Hain's position is "untenable". Downing Street expresses "full confidence" in Mr Hain.<a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7182480.stm">Hain faces sleaze watchdog probe</a><a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7184128.stm">Hain bid donors 'were not told'</a>

12 January: Mr Hain reads out statement to reporters outside his home in his Neath constituency, saying it was "absurd" to suggest he had tried to hide anything. He said he was "happy" for the inquiries to take their course and "meanwhile I will get on with my cabinet jobs".<a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7185087.stm">Defiant Hain 'to get on with job'</a><a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7185161.stm">In full: Peter Hain statement</a><a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7184528.stm">Hain under fire over think tank</a>

14 January: Parliamentary standards commissioner John Lyon confirms he is to launch an inquiry into the funding row. Mr Hain promises to co-operate fully. <a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7186473.stm">Hain 'to co-operate with inquiry'</a>

15 January: Among options being considered by the Electoral Commission is whether to refer the row over Mr Hain's donations to the police - which could lead to a court hearing and fine of up to £5,000. <a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7188461.stm">Hain 'could face police inquiry'</a>

16 January: Gordon Brown says that Mr Hain is guilty of "an incompetence" - not corruption. The Work and Pensions secretary comes under attack from the Tories in the Commons, who say the "chaos" is spreading to his department. However, Mr Hain receives a vote of "utmost confidence" from his constituency party in Neath.<a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7190966.stm">Hain donations 'an incompetence'</a><a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7191432.stm">Tories target Hain 'incompetence'</a><a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7193009.stm">Hain backed by constituency party</a>

24 January: At 1208 GMT, the Electoral Commission refers to the Metropolitan Police the late declaration of donations totalling £103,000. Within minutes, Mr Hain announces his resignation from the Cabinet, stepping down both as work and pensions secretary and as secretary of state for Wales.<a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7206812.stm">Peter Hain resigns from Cabinet</a><a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7206831.stm">In full: Electoral Commission statement</a>