Hain donation file handed to CPS

Scotland Yard delivered its evidence file to the Crown Prosecution Service for a decision on whether charges should be brought over the failure to declare more than £100,000 in donations last year.

Mr Hain, who resigned as work and pensions secretary in January, said: "I have consistently provided them with all the information they might need, and I hope to see my name cleared as quickly as possible."

Mr Hain failed to declare gifts totalling £103,157 to his failed deputy leadership bid last summer.

He finally admitted the extent of the problems on January 12, blaming administrative errors and vowing to stay in his Cabinet job.

However, 12 days later - and after Gordon brown branded the situation "an incompetence" - he finally quit when the Electoral Commission referred the matter to the Yard.

The was reported to have been interviewed by police over potential breaches of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 during the past few weeks, but no arrests have been made.

Mr Hain said: "As I have said all along this was a mistake by my campaign, but an innocent mistake.

"When I discovered the problem it was I who immediately notified the authorities that a number of donations had been declared late."