Hain guilty of 'serious failings' in donor row
FORMER Cabinet minister Peter Hain was guilty of "serious and substantial failings" in not registering more than £100,000 of donations to his Labour deputy leadership campaign, according to Westminster's sleaze watchdog.
The Commons Standards and Privileges Committee said the scale of the rule breach caused justified public concern.
-
Peter Hain.
But the committee merely ordered the Neath MP to make an apology on the floor of the House after accepting there was no intention to deceive.
In a statement, Mr Hain said: "The cabinet secretary stated that I complied fully with the Ministerial Code, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) exonerated me and now the Parliamentary authorities have also accepted that the mistakes I made were honest mistakes.
"I have been asked to repeat my apology on the floor of the Commons, which I am happy to do."
The CPS has already announced it will be taking no criminal action against Mr Hain over the failures.
7 Comments
by James Sheridan, Swansea
Saturday, January 24 2009, 3:54PM
“I suggest the people of Neath should vote with their feet and not vote for him at the next General Election, which may held revitalise the memories of some of our 'dim' Politicians!
Jim Sheridan”
by d r, swansea
Friday, January 23 2009, 12:20PM
“he s a slimeball!his fake tan smug grin!why arent cps prosecuting he s broken the law.”
by Wayne Morris, Sandfields, Port Talbot
Thursday, January 22 2009, 5:20PM
“What about a formal apology to his constituents?”
by The Cynic, Swansea
Thursday, January 22 2009, 3:52PM
“Hang your head in shame, Peter Hain, and don't try to downgrade your culpability by claiming it was an 'honest' mistake. Whatever gloss you want to put on it, it's quite rare for your colleagues to take the view that your misdeeds were 'serious and substantial' so don't try to treat the public with contempt. We know what you did. Wake up Neath, he's brought your constituency into direpute while attempting to further his own self-satisfying ambitions.”
by carol, Swansea
Thursday, January 22 2009, 2:22PM
“This lot get away with everything”
by Danny, Neath
Thursday, January 22 2009, 1:57PM
“Opps i just dropped £103,000 down the back of the sofa, oh never mind i'll just right it off as a mistake Sorry Mr Taxman. I'm sure that would go down well, what a blatant bit of its not what but who you know!!!!!”
by Dave, Neath
Thursday, January 22 2009, 1:53PM
“Less just hope he goes to prison for it.
If it were Joe Public in his place he'd would have been charged found guilty and locked up for the deceit that he has shown.”