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| Hain backed by constituency party | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Peter Hain has received a vote of "utmost confidence" from his constituency party amid the donations row over his deputy leadership bid. | Peter Hain has received a vote of "utmost confidence" from his constituency party amid the donations row over his deputy leadership bid. |
| Neath Constituency Labour Party praised the work and pensions secretary for having the "highest integrity". | |
| It comes as the Electoral Commission is looking into late declarations of £103,000 in donations to Mr Hain. | It comes as the Electoral Commission is looking into late declarations of £103,000 in donations to Mr Hain. |
| Clive Phillips, of Neath Labour Party, said Mr Hain, who is also Welsh secretary, was an "outstanding" MP. | |
| He spoke out after Gordon Brown had earlier conceded that Mr Hain was guilty of "an incompetence" over the donations to his failed 2007 Labour deputy leadership campaign. | |
| We have utmost confidence that Peter's account and apology for administrative failings in his campaign office will be accepted Clive PhillipsNeath Constituency Labour Party | We have utmost confidence that Peter's account and apology for administrative failings in his campaign office will be accepted Clive PhillipsNeath Constituency Labour Party |
| The prime minister told ITN Mr Hain had made a mistake he had "readily admitted to" but there had been "no corruption". | The prime minister told ITN Mr Hain had made a mistake he had "readily admitted to" but there had been "no corruption". |
| Mr Hain, who came fifth in the six-candidate Labour deputy contest, is also facing a separate inquiry by Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon. | |
| He says he has been "open and clear" and will co-operate with any inquiry. It has emerged that on Tuesday he apologised to cabinet colleagues for the row. | |
| Downing Street acknowledged that the uproar over the £103,000 had become "an issue", adding that was "why he said sorry". | |
| Accept account | |
| At Wednesday's two-hour meeting of the executive committee of Neath Constituency Labour Party, Mr Hain was given unanimous backing. | |
| Mr Phillips said Mr Hain had always displayed "the highest integrity and honesty" since becoming Neath MP in 1991. | |
| "We have utmost confidence that Peter's account and apology for administrative failings in his campaign office will be accepted," said Mr Phillips. | "We have utmost confidence that Peter's account and apology for administrative failings in his campaign office will be accepted," said Mr Phillips. |
| "We expect the ongoing investigations will lead to a satisfactory outcome and he will be able to continue serving the country with the same commitment and distinction that he has shown in the past." | "We expect the ongoing investigations will lead to a satisfactory outcome and he will be able to continue serving the country with the same commitment and distinction that he has shown in the past." |
| Mr Phillips said the MP had "an exemplary record of public service in government, primarily as an outstanding secretary of state for Wales since 2002". | Mr Phillips said the MP had "an exemplary record of public service in government, primarily as an outstanding secretary of state for Wales since 2002". |
| Taunts | |
| He had also dealt successfully with the "challenging portfolios" as Northern Ireland secretary and in work and pensions. | He had also dealt successfully with the "challenging portfolios" as Northern Ireland secretary and in work and pensions. |
| Earlier, Mr Hain faced taunts of "incompetence" from the Tories as he took to the dispatch box for his first scheduled Commons questions sessions since the row over the donations emerged. | Earlier, Mr Hain faced taunts of "incompetence" from the Tories as he took to the dispatch box for his first scheduled Commons questions sessions since the row over the donations emerged. |
| Conservative shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling claimed it "all appears to be getting a bit much" for Mr Hain. | Conservative shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling claimed it "all appears to be getting a bit much" for Mr Hain. |
| During a debate on pensioner poverty, Mr Grayling pressed him: "Can you now tell us why you believe you are still the right man to do the job?" | During a debate on pensioner poverty, Mr Grayling pressed him: "Can you now tell us why you believe you are still the right man to do the job?" |