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Comeback hope after Hain is cleared over £100,000 late donation
Nicholas Cecil5 Dec 2008
Britain's election laws were in disarray today after prosecutors said no charges would be brought against ex-Cabinet minister Peter Hain in a late donations row.
Gordon Brown today hinted at a political comeback for the former Work and Pensions Secretary, after the CPS failed to identify who had been responsible for declaring donations to Labour deputy leadership campaigns.
Mr Hain was forced to quit the Cabinet in January after police were called in by the Electoral Commission to investigate the late registration of more than £100,000.
Today, he launched a scathing attack on the commission, which he accused of passing the buck by calling in the police.
He also criticised Labour's flagship Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 which was brought in to clean up Westminster's reputation.
Downing Street gave no indication that he would be swiftly recalled to the Cabinet though the Prime Minister has said that he expected him to "make a contribution to public life in the future." A No 10 spokesman said: "We obviously welcome the fact that Peter Hain has been cleared."
The commission will review the outcome of the inquiry - and conceded the law may need to be changed to clarify who is responsible for donations. It made the admission after the cash-for-peerages inquiry also ended without prosecutions.
Mr Hain said: "The legislation needs wholesale reform well beyond the piecemeal changes the Government has proposed in its new, unsatisfactory bill.
"The commission itself also needs a shake-up. Added to my own unhappy experience is a long record of behaving in a politically unworldly, incompetent and inconsistent way which is why it has lost respect throughout Parliament."
Admitting he deeply regretted what he called an "honest mistake", Mr Hain argued that MPs should be able to appoint election compliance officers, especially for internal party campaigns.
He also argued for civil penalties such as fines for breaches of election laws rather than "the panoply of police and prosecutors".
Reader views (9)
His resignation tends to confirm the belief that he knew he was guilty; if he had thought that he was innocent I am sure he would have held on to his job, rather like his colleague Mr Martin.
- J R J, Ballagarey, 08/12/2008 08:44
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No charges will be brought does not mean innocent.It has all the stigma of a "Not proven" verdictTo many of us Labour politicians are frequently guilty of mistakes tho' we have yet to see an "honest"one.
- P, filey uk, 06/12/2008 20:11
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One word sums it up.
WHITEWASH
- Tom Fox, Crouch End, London, 05/12/2008 20:04
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In the Labour Party, no one is ever guilty of anything. they are the 'Shameless' party.
- Michael Murphy, brightlingsea england, 05/12/2008 17:58
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An "honest mistake." From Peter Hain? Yeah. Right.
- Nick, Hong Kong, 05/12/2008 15:55
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Just another political cover up.
- Jon Nemo, Llanelli, 05/12/2008 15:53
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Once again the Establishment looks after its own.
- Neil, Gloucestershire, England., 05/12/2008 15:45
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Comeback hope just in time to be elected out of office.
"honest mistake", they seem to be very common amongst Labour politicians. They are making them every day.
- Frank, Home Counties, England, 05/12/2008 15:24
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Well Well ...... When will the general publice start demanding that all British Citizens are subject to the same LAWS ?? and not just the poor man / woman in the street.
- Pete Collins, London, 05/12/2008 15:15
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