This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7188461.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Hain 'could face police inquiry' | Hain 'could face police inquiry' |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain could face a police inquiry into the late declaration of donations to his failed Labour deputy leader campaign. | Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain could face a police inquiry into the late declaration of donations to his failed Labour deputy leader campaign. |
| 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, who is also Welsh secretary, failed to declare on time £103,000 in donations to last year's campaign, but put the blame on poor administration. | Mr Hain, who is also Welsh secretary, failed to declare on time £103,000 in donations to last year's campaign, but put the blame on poor administration. |
| He says he has been "open and clear" and will co-operate with any inquiry. | He says he has been "open and clear" and will co-operate with any inquiry. |
| Neath MP Mr Hain, who came fifth in the six-candidate 2007 Labour deputy contest, is also facing a separate inquiry by Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon. | Neath MP Mr Hain, who came fifth in the six-candidate 2007 Labour deputy contest, is also facing a separate inquiry by Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon. |
| I've been open and clear about this from the beginning when I discovered these donations had been made late Peter Hain Osborne defends actions class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2008/01/will_the_police.html">Read Nick Robinson's blog | |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Electoral Commission staff were feeling "real frustration" they had 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 political editor Nick Robinson said Electoral Commission staff were feeling "real frustration" they had 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. |
| 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. |
| Cameron flights | Cameron flights |
| Meanwhile, the BBC has learned that Tory leader David Cameron failed to tell the Electoral Commission about three free flights he took during his leadership campaign in 2005. | Meanwhile, the BBC has learned that Tory leader David Cameron failed to tell the Electoral Commission about three free flights he took during his leadership campaign in 2005. |
| The donated flights are registered in David Cameron's name in the Commons register of members' interest, but do not appear in the Electoral Commission's record. | The donated flights are registered in David Cameron's name in the Commons register of members' interest, but do not appear in the Electoral Commission's record. |
| The commission says a donation of more than £1,000 must be declared and it is estimated these flights would have cost between £3,000 to £8,000. | The commission says a donation of more than £1,000 must be declared and it is estimated these flights would have cost between £3,000 to £8,000. |
| However Mr Cameron's office said the costs could be split between the number of people on board, keeping the amount for Mr Cameron below £1,000 on at least one of the flights. | However Mr Cameron's office said the costs could be split between the number of people on board, keeping the amount for Mr Cameron below £1,000 on at least one of the flights. |
| Electoral commissioners will meet later this week, when they could discuss the donations to Mr Hain's campaign. | Electoral commissioners will meet later this week, when they could discuss the donations to Mr Hain's campaign. |
| 'Great job' | 'Great job' |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has given his backing to Mr Hain, saying he was doing a "great job", but he said his fate would be decided by the two inquiries. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has given his backing to Mr Hain, saying he was doing a "great job", but he said his fate would be decided by the two inquiries. |
| Think-tank | Think-tank |
| Mr Hain said it was "absurd" to suggest he had attempted to hide anything. | Mr Hain said it was "absurd" to suggest he had attempted to hide anything. |
| He told the BBC: "I've been open and clear about this from the beginning when I discovered these donations had been made late. | He told the BBC: "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." |
| 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. |
| Tory complaint | Tory complaint |
| The Tories have also 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 also 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. |
| Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Mr Lyon has received a complaint about that omission, his office said. | Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Mr Lyon has received a complaint about that omission, his office said. |
| Conservative leader David Cameron said the two cases were "completely different" because Mr Osborne's donations had been registered with the Electoral Commission. | 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." |