Peter Hain resigns
Peter Hoskin 1:24pm
Peter Hain has resigned as the donations made to his deputy leader campaign have been referred to the police.
There's no doubting that this will be extremely damaging for the Government. Whether or not Hain eventually clears his name, the public perception will surely be that corruption is endemic throughout the Labour Party - especially given that his was not the only name linked with malpractice. How many other names will be tainted by this affair, even if only in the public eye?
However, the nature of Hain's departure is potentially even more harmful than any spreading rot. The Spectator argued weeks ago that Hain should be sacked. Sacked, that is: shown the door rather being allowed to find it himself. Hain's resignation will lead to questions about why Brown didn't act sooner. Such questions will only amplify should Hain actually be convicted of any criminal wrongdoing.
Only 24 days into 2008, Brown's New Year relaunch is in tatters.
UPDATE: Hain's resignation statment can be read here.
UPDATE 2: Cameron's already questioning whether Brown should have allowed Hain to remain a Cabinet Minister for so long.
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Comments
Kevyn Bodman
January 24th, 2008 2:21pmAnd the Spectator was right to argue that he should have been sacked. Now the comments are coming that Mr. Hain has done 'the honourable thing.' The honourable thing is to behave properly in the first place.
David
January 24th, 2008 3:01pmIs it me, or is Downing Street mad in stressing to all that he jumped and wasn't pushed? Surely that just reinforces the notion that Brown can't take a decision?
Tiberius
January 24th, 2008 3:16pmHe should have been sacked, yes, but at least we may get some respite now from the loathsome politics delivered in a loathsome style by one of New Labour's most depressingly shameless representatives.
Max Kaye
January 24th, 2008 6:37pmHain was/is indeed loathsome, Tiberius (I know you didn't actually say it - but you know you wanted to ;-) . The main reason Hain 'jumped' is that if he had been sacked then Brown/Labour would have to apply the same rules to wee Dougie Alexander's sister and other offenders.
Tiberius
January 24th, 2008 9:13pmMax; you give me too much credit - that thought wasn't in my mind, but you are right. Brown would have created a domino effect. I wonder if criminal investigations are to follow in the other cases?
Nicholas Millman
January 24th, 2008 9:32pmNow Harriet Harmon and Wendy Alexander should go too. The inevitability of all this reinforces Cameron's charge of "ditherer" against Brown. Having boasted about the new era for politics Brown should have demonstrated the strength to sack them all. Is he frightened that once outside the tent dangerous revelations will flow from these disgraced acolytes?
TGF UKIP
January 25th, 2008 12:02amKevyn Bodman, credit where credit is due please. This is a triumph for Guido who is not afraid to name names. The Speccie may be a lot more cerebral than Guido but it certainly lacks his balls.
Kevyn Bodman
January 25th, 2008 1:43amTGF UKIP Thanks for the pointer. Guido's is not one of the sites I visit. I'll give it a try for a couple of weeks. Here's a reciprocal pointer for you- Nanny Knows Best. Some of the stories there really can put you into that no-man's-land between laughing and crying.
Trafalgar
January 25th, 2008 1:46pmHain had to go and should certainly have gone when the donations first came to light. But I'm unconvinced that Wendy Alexander should go to: we are talking about £900 for goodness sake.
Ambercat
January 25th, 2008 2:44pmIf a burglar gets caught breaking and entering does he get let off simply because he was incompetent? “I am sorry your honour, but my friend who was in charge of disabling the burglar alarm did not notice that extra circuit”. Should you reasonably expect such an excuse to stand up in court? If you think not then you will probably agree that our politicians should not get away with similar excuses. Read my thoughts in full at ambercat.blogspot.com