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Brown denies dithering over Hain Brown 'right to wait over Hain'
(about 3 hours later)
Gordon Brown has denied dithering over whether to sack cabinet minister Peter Hain over a donations row. Gordon Brown has said he was right not to decide on Peter Hain's future before the Electoral Commission reported its findings on donations.
Mr Hain quit after the Electoral Commission asked police to probe the late declaration of £103,000 given to his Labour deputy leadership campaign. Mr Hain resigned after the organisation asked police to investigate the late declaration of £103,000 given to his Labour deputy leadership campaign.
Mr Brown, attending the world economic forum in Davos, said it had been "the right thing to do" to wait until the commission had reported. The prime minister said it had been "the right thing to do" not to sack him as work and pensions secretary.
But the Conservatives have accused the prime minister of being indecisive. But the Conservatives have accused Mr Brown of "dithering".
'Facts''Facts'
Mr Hain, who has been replaced as work and pensions secretary by James Purnell, came sixth in the race to be Labour's deputy leader.Mr Hain, who has been replaced as work and pensions secretary by James Purnell, came sixth in the race to be Labour's deputy leader.
He resigned on Thursday, promising to clear his name.He resigned on Thursday, promising to clear his name.
Mr Brown said: "I always said, and I think this is the right thing to do, that we wait until the Electoral Commission itself reported. Mr Brown, speaking at the world economic forum in Davos, said: "I always said, and I think this is the right thing to do, that we wait until the Electoral Commission itself reported.
CABINET RESHUFFLE Work and Pensions Secretary: James PurnellCulture Secretary: Andy BurnhamChief Secretary to the Treasury: Yvette CooperHousing Minister: Caroline FlintSecretary of State for Wales: Paul Murphy Profile: James PurnellProfile: Andy BurnhamCABINET RESHUFFLE Work and Pensions Secretary: James PurnellCulture Secretary: Andy BurnhamChief Secretary to the Treasury: Yvette CooperHousing Minister: Caroline FlintSecretary of State for Wales: Paul Murphy Profile: James PurnellProfile: Andy Burnham
"They have the facts, they were looking at them, they made the judgement and now we get on with the business."They have the facts, they were looking at them, they made the judgement and now we get on with the business.
"And the most important thing that people should know is that we're getting on with the business of government.""And the most important thing that people should know is that we're getting on with the business of government."
Mr Purnell, in a BBC interview, was asked whether the Hain funding row and other controversies involving donations had left a "bit of a taint around the question of Labour's relationship with money"Mr Purnell, in a BBC interview, was asked whether the Hain funding row and other controversies involving donations had left a "bit of a taint around the question of Labour's relationship with money"
He replied: "No. I don't think so."He replied: "No. I don't think so."
Mr Purnell added : "I do think what is right to do is to move forward on Sir Hayden Phillips' recommendations and that's what we are committed to doing... David Cameron should do the same thing."Mr Purnell added : "I do think what is right to do is to move forward on Sir Hayden Phillips' recommendations and that's what we are committed to doing... David Cameron should do the same thing."
The Conservatives also say they want to reform party funding - and have called for a cap on donations.The Conservatives also say they want to reform party funding - and have called for a cap on donations.
TalksTalks
But they have said the funding scandals to have hit Labour have been caused by ministers failing to follow the existing rules, which were brought in by Labour.But they have said the funding scandals to have hit Labour have been caused by ministers failing to follow the existing rules, which were brought in by Labour.
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude said: "We have always said we will restart talks as soon as Gordon Brown accepts the need for an across-the-board cap on donations.Shadow Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude said: "We have always said we will restart talks as soon as Gordon Brown accepts the need for an across-the-board cap on donations.
"The talks broke down last October because Labour were unwilling to consider any meaningful reform of the trade unions' control of Labour's finances.""The talks broke down last October because Labour were unwilling to consider any meaningful reform of the trade unions' control of Labour's finances."
Mr Hain, the MP for Neath, is the first cabinet member to quit under Gordon Brown's premiership. His other post - Welsh secretary - goes to Paul Murphy.Mr Hain, the MP for Neath, is the first cabinet member to quit under Gordon Brown's premiership. His other post - Welsh secretary - goes to Paul Murphy.
In the reshuffle, Mr Purnell is replaced as culture secretary by Andy Burnham. Yvette Cooper replaces Mr Burnham as chief secretary to the treasury, and Caroline Flint becomes housing minister.In the reshuffle, Mr Purnell is replaced as culture secretary by Andy Burnham. Yvette Cooper replaces Mr Burnham as chief secretary to the treasury, and Caroline Flint becomes housing minister.