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ARGUS COMMENT: Hain has been foolish

10:48am Friday 11th January 2008

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THE latest revelations about Welsh secretary Peter Hain show clearly that he has been a fool.

By not declaring more than £100,000 in donations to his campaign for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party he has put a black mark on to his record.

Whatever his protestations about his aides being responsible for the administration of his campaign the buck clearly stops with him.

We would expect the public administration select committee to investigate the matter and admonish Mr Hain.

But we hope the matter ends there. We do not think Mr Hain should resign over this because we think he would be a sad loss as a minister.

Had he stood to make personal gain out of not declaring the donations we would have said the opposite.

But we cannot see any gain to him, especially as he came fifth in the deputy leadership contest.

On the plus side Mr Hain has some real achievements to his name.

He gained more for the miners in speeding up compensation than any other trade minister. He helped achieve real progress in Northern Ireland.

He has gained more powers for the devolved Assembly in Wales (whether you think that is a good thing or not it is still true) and as work and pensions minister he has helped Welsh steelworkers achieve justice regarding their pension funds.

These are real accomplishments compared to some waste-of-space ministers and when lined up against his sin of omission regarding donations we believe he has earned enough credit to be given another chance.

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Your Say YourSouth Wales Argus

User, Blackwood says...
10:53am Fri 11 Jan 08

I disagree. He is the top man, and the buck should stop with him. He should resign now.

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Grumpy Old Man, The Gaer says...
10:56am Fri 11 Jan 08

He must resign!

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the main man, newport says...
11:02am Fri 11 Jan 08

Hain should resign. I am sorry Argus but you are very wrong on this. How about a poll to see what people think? As for more powers for the Assembly. Lets have a vote on whether the Assembly should have full powers or be abolished. My guess is that they wont have this vote because they are uncertain that they can win and people may vote to be rid of this expensive talking shop and all wasters from ALL political parties who sit there as our elected AMs

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Steve, says...
11:03am Fri 11 Jan 08

Whether he came 5th, first or 105th, he still failed to follow what are, in essence, pretty simple guidleines. You get donations, you declare them.

His wouldn't be the first political career to be ended by a financial error, and it won't be the last.

However, regardless of his achievements, he really should know the inevitable consequence.

If he did stay in office, who would now trust him with money issues? If these irregularities have been discovered, what hasn't? How well will he be able to perform with auditors looking over his shoulder from now on.

The damage is done, unfortunately. You can't have one rule for some, and another rule for others, based on their acheivements.

It would be in his best interests, I think, to walk before he is pushed.

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tim, Magor says...
12:05pm Fri 11 Jan 08

I am fed up with politicians taking and spending other people money.

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Stoner, Ebbw Vale says...
1:37pm Fri 11 Jan 08

Will he resign. My Arse

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doug, Cwmbran says...
2:03pm Fri 11 Jan 08

So he is a fool,he has broken the law, he is unable to keep an eye on his election campaign, he comes clean only when he is found out,seeks to blame others for his wrong doings AND is responsible for a major Government Department. He maintains he has made a mistake and is innocent of any wrong doing. Our prisons are full of men who will claim the same.
Hain,for god sake resign if you have a shred of honour. If not how can bottler Brown possibly allow such a buffoon to be a Minister. He is to Brown what Prescott was to Blair a liability.

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WheelyPete, Trumpton says...
2:07pm Fri 11 Jan 08

One missed donation is a mistake, three or four a “****-up”, ten, would constitute a “****-up” of monumental proportions, but with the best will in the world, seventeen donations so far, amounting to in excess of £103,000 with more than £80,000 already declared, is in my opinion, a deliberate attempt by somebody on behalf of Peter Hain to disguise the fact that he spent more on his Deputy Leadership campaign than almost all of the other candidates put together, (including the eventual winner), only managed 5th place, and had to beg for donations from rich friends to cover his debts, and we are meant to believe he knew nothing of this because he was so busy?

I wonder if the Argus would be quite so understanding had we been looking at someone not declaring a similar amount donated to say the St. David’s Foundation who also supposedly knew nothing about £103,000 coming in, never mind what had happened to it afterwards, I suspect the comment would be calling for such a hypothetical crook to be locked up for a few years?

Should Peter Hain resign, perhaps he should wait a few weeks and get himself appointed as Director of Finance for the newly nationalised Northern Rock?

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Poolerfan, Cwmbran says...
4:45pm Fri 11 Jan 08

the man who is weeding out benefit cheats????????

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Casey, Torfaen says...
7:31pm Fri 11 Jan 08

Tolerance folks. Don't you ever make a mistake, mistake, mistake, mistake, mistake mistake mistake mistake mistake.

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John, says...
10:50am Sun 13 Jan 08

the main man wrote:
Hain should resign. I am sorry Argus but you are very wrong on this. How about a poll to see what people think? As for more powers for the Assembly. Lets have a vote on whether the Assembly should have full powers or be abolished. My guess is that they wont have this vote because they are uncertain that they can win and people may vote to be rid of this expensive talking shop and all wasters from ALL political parties who sit there as our elected AMs
I AGREE ENTIRELY.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT THE VOTE FOR THE WELSH ASSEMBLY WAS MANUFACTURED SO AS TO GIVE THE RIGHT RESULT. MOST OF THE POPULATED AREAS (THE MAJORITY) VOTED AGAINST AN ASSEMBLY.
JUST ANOTHER TIER OF GOVERNMENT WITH ITS SNOUTS IN THE TROUGH.

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bonny, PONTYPOOL says...
10:59pm Sun 13 Jan 08

With slease at the heart of government ,cash for questions .No wounder there is so much apathy at Elections .Elected M.Ps,and councillors most are in it for what they can get out of it.

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