Red letter day 2
It's been a long time coming and there are few details yet - only the one that truly matters to former Welsh Secretary, Peter Hain. The Crown Prosecution Service will not be taking any action against him over the late declaration of donations of £103,000 to the Electoral Commission.
There'll be a statement at 10am and my colleagues are already heading to Neath to talk to Mr Hain.
Until a few weeks ago I got nothing but head shaking when I asked around Westminster whether Gordon Brown might invite Peter Hain back into his cabinet. No-one believed the CPS would take action against him after all. When his name was cleared, wouldn't Number 10 be on the phone? At a time when all hands are needed at the pump wouldn't his experienced hands be pretty valuable? Most thought it unlikely.
Then Gordon Brown brought Peter Mandelson back to man the pump. I wonder if they're still so sure it's unlikely.
This statement from Peter Hain:
"I said all along that reporting some of the donations to my 2007 Labour party deputy Leader campaign late was an honest mistake. Now everyone knows that it was.
"After ten months in limbo while the inquiry took its course, I now look forward to tackling again the issues of social justice, human rights and equality as I have done for all 40 years of my political life, both outside and inside government, from anti-apartheid protester to cabinet minister."
I'm Betsan Powys, BBC Wales' political editor. I'll be blogging the inside track on 
© MMX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~19~RS~)
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
"...an honest mistake. Now everyone knows that it was. "
WHY, OF COURSE!!!
A no-think-tank that never "thunk" as a means of laundering dodgey right wing donations?
HEY, NO PROBLEM...You are as innocent as the (winter) tan is orange!
Arise Sir Peter...and met "Peter" (Lord O' Mandy) Your new bestest mate! And fellow TOTAL hypo.
ITZA NEW LABOUR (hand washed by Gordon) TING!
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Can it be true......?
Is such a thing possible.......?
Has the impeccable Mr. Hain united the warring factions on here?
Or is it just an early dose of festive spirit.?
Why only the other week in the Plymouth Arms, Brynt41 and I were discussing with each other just how easy it is to forget a donation of 103 grand.
Peanuts really . . . . .
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Refresh my memory...how long was he held when he was arrested for questioning? How many of his personal papers were seized by the police as part of the enquiry? Did the police seize his mobile phones and computers? Did the anti-terrorist squad search his home, constituency offices and office in San Steffan?
and if not, why not? Surely an accusation of dodgy behaviour over £100K is far more serious than possession of copies of internal memos that should be in the public domain anyway (they were written by public servants, paid for by the public, so 'leaking' doesn't really apply.)
One rule for ZanuLabour, another for the rest.
(not that I'm saying he SHOULD have been arrested....)
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Rhyddid-i-dooting: I seem to hear the 'Red Flag' when I see that name, Wolfy...
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If honest Peter tells me it was an simple mistake, why not give him the benefit .....
..... after all, for 40 years he has been tackling 'issues of social justice, human rights and equality'.....
or could that be 'simple Peter tells me it was an honest mistake'.....
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#3 and #4 BLUESNIK (Marxist Cynic ) and Noah
For once I agree with both of you absolutely.
The BBC can't explain why they censored my comment #2 above. It seems that some people in this society can't be criticised
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Breaking news...
Panic sticken viewers phoned BBC Wales last night after an intense orange glow was seen in the night sky over Neath...
Derique (Weather Guru - Llandaff.com) said..."Do not panic...its only the Hain ego being re-inflated. Shortly it will move from left to right to back again as it repositions it's career path. But it does give off a noxious smell so keep your cats and voters in!"
More breaking news...
Ronnie Biggs..."Just collecting train numbers!"
Hillary - "I forgot and miss-spoke (just like Peter)!"
Hitler - "Poland?....Smooooland!"
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Yes he can... I have a pretty large Cabinet here we can lock him in to keep him out of bother.
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Hain has been a disaster for Neath and politics in general. He is a self publicist with an overinflated opinion of his importance.
He was parachuted into the Neath constituency by the Welsh Windbag, he had no connection with Neath or indeed Wales but has a job for life. I noted at the time that there was no outcry raised about him not being Welsh, as there was when John Redwood or William Hague were appointed Welsh Secretary.
Hain changes his views with the wind to enable him to climb the greasy pole of politics - he should do a favour to the people of Neath and resign as an MP
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To be fair to Redwood and Hague (did I just say that?) - the main objections to them being SoS for Wales was not that they were English but that they represented English Constituencies and had no connection or understanding of Welsh Affairs. Though to be fair to Hague in his first few weeks as SoS for Wales he got standing ovations when entering a room, for the simple reason that he wasn't Redwood!
As for Hain... well he could have made a mistake, I suspect more over choice of campaign manager than anything, I don't believe he deliberately failed to disclose a donation. He is guilty of not checking though. No please accept that I am a fairly forgiving sort of person and I agree you need a huge pinch of salt to accept he is blameless.
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#11 petert53
I couldn't agree more... do we have the same genes?
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Peter Hain has made and hopefully will continue to make an invaluable contribution to Welsh Politics. It is worth recording again his crucial role in securing a yes vote during the 97 referendum campaign.
The fact that this inquiry has taken so long and has frankly been heavy handed is deplorable. The rules need to be made clearer and the Electoral Commisssion needs to have a clearer sense of what its about.
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Expolgareththomas.
Can we all assume you're taking the **** ?
By the way, I love the new way you spell 'commis(s)sion' . . . .that extra 's' adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the whole post.
Nothing like a freezing cold Sunday night to bring out the pedant in me !
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