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| Hain 'could face police inquiry' | Hain 'could face police inquiry' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Peter Hain could face a police inquiry into the late declaration of donations to his 2007 campaign to become Labour's deputy leader, it has emerged. | Peter Hain could face a police inquiry into the late declaration of donations to his 2007 campaign to become Labour's deputy leader, it has emerged. |
| It is one of the options being looked at by the Electoral Commission, which is already investigating the matter. | It is one of the options being looked at by the Electoral Commission, which is already investigating the matter. |
| Mr Hain, the work and pensions and Welsh secretaries, is also facing a separate inquiry by Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon. | Mr Hain, the work and pensions and Welsh secretaries, is also facing a separate inquiry by Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon. |
| He failed to declare £103,000 in donations to his campaign on time. | He failed to declare £103,000 in donations to his campaign on time. |
| 'Real frustration' | 'Real frustration' |
| Neath MP Mr Hain, who came fifth in the six-candidate Labour deputy contest, insists he has been "open and clear" and will co-operate fully with both inquiries. He blames a busy work schedule for the donations oversight. | |
| A spokesman for Mr Hain declined to comment on the suggestion he might face a police inquiry. | |
| BBC politcal editor Nick Robinson said Electoral Commission staff were feeling "real frustration" that they have a choice only between giving Mr Hain a "slap on the wrist" for breaking electoral rules, or calling in the police - which could lead to a possible court hearing and a potential fine of up to £5,000. | BBC politcal editor Nick Robinson said Electoral Commission staff were feeling "real frustration" that they have a choice only between giving Mr Hain a "slap on the wrist" for breaking electoral rules, or calling in the police - which could lead to a possible court hearing and a potential fine of up to £5,000. |
| I've been open and clear about this from the beginning when I discovered these donations had been made late Peter Hain Osborne defends donations actions | I've been open and clear about this from the beginning when I discovered these donations had been made late Peter Hain Osborne defends donations actions |
| Under the law, political donations need to be reported within 60 days of being offered. | Under the law, political donations need to be reported within 60 days of being offered. |
| A senior commission source told the Times newspaper: "Mr Hain's explanation that he hadn't got time looks like contempt for the rules." | A senior commission source told the Times newspaper: "Mr Hain's explanation that he hadn't got time looks like contempt for the rules." |
| Electoral commissioners will meet later this week, when they could discuss the donations. | Electoral commissioners will meet later this week, when they could discuss the donations. |
| They could consider a report from officials at the commission and then decide whether or not to request a police investigation. | They could consider a report from officials at the commission and then decide whether or not to request a police investigation. |
| The commission is expected to produce its initial findings by the end of the week, with a full report coming later. | |
| Meanwhile, officials at the standards commissioner's office say he believes there are grounds for an investigation, following a complaint by Monmouth Tory MP David Davies. | Meanwhile, officials at the standards commissioner's office say he believes there are grounds for an investigation, following a complaint by Monmouth Tory MP David Davies. |
| 'Great job' | 'Great job' |
| Mr Hain could face suspension from the Commons if he is found to have flouted the rules on members' interests. | Mr Hain could face suspension from the Commons if he is found to have flouted the rules on members' interests. |
| Earlier, Prime Minister Gordon Brown gave his backing to Mr Hain, saying he was doing a "great job". | Earlier, Prime Minister Gordon Brown gave his backing to Mr Hain, saying he was doing a "great job". |
| But he said his fate would be decided by the two inquiries. | But he said his fate would be decided by the two inquiries. |
| Mr Hain blamed poor administration for his failure to declare the donations, saying it was "absurd" to suggest he had attempted to hide anything. | Mr Hain blamed poor administration for his failure to declare the donations, saying it was "absurd" to suggest he had attempted to hide anything. |
| He told the BBC: "A complaint has been made and I will co-operate fully with the relevant authorities to answer these complaints, of course I will. | He told the BBC: "A complaint has been made and I will co-operate fully with the relevant authorities to answer these complaints, of course I will. |
| "I've been open and clear about this from the beginning when I discovered these donations had been made late. | "I've been open and clear about this from the beginning when I discovered these donations had been made late. |
| "I told the public, I told you in the media, I told the relevant authorities - the parliamentary commissioner for standards and also the Electoral Commission. | "I told the public, I told you in the media, I told the relevant authorities - the parliamentary commissioner for standards and also the Electoral Commission. |
| "I'll continue to co-operate with everybody." | "I'll continue to co-operate with everybody." |
| Speculation | Speculation |
| Mr Hain also faces questions over the role of a think-tank, the Progressive Policies Forum (PPF), in channelling donations. | Mr Hain also faces questions over the role of a think-tank, the Progressive Policies Forum (PPF), in channelling donations. |
| The PPF employs no staff and has not published any research since it was set up in December 2006, three months after Mr Hain launched his campaign. | The PPF employs no staff and has not published any research since it was set up in December 2006, three months after Mr Hain launched his campaign. |
| The Tories have themselves been criticised after it was reported that shadow chancellor George Osborne did not declare £487,000 of donations to the Commons register of members' interests. | The Tories have themselves been criticised after it was reported that shadow chancellor George Osborne did not declare £487,000 of donations to the Commons register of members' interests. |
| Earlier, Conservative leader David Cameron said the two cases were "completely different" because Mr Osborne's donations had been registered with the Electoral Commission. | Earlier, Conservative leader David Cameron said the two cases were "completely different" because Mr Osborne's donations had been registered with the Electoral Commission. |
| Of Mr Hain, he said: "He has a choice: he can get out there and explain himself, or I think he will have to leave the cabinet." | Of Mr Hain, he said: "He has a choice: he can get out there and explain himself, or I think he will have to leave the cabinet." |