Hain denies offering peerage to stop election challenge

Northern Secretary Peter Hain has denied that he offered a peerage to a former Labour Party MP in an effort to stop him contesting the last British general election.

The leader of the Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru has accused Mr Hain of offering a seat in the House of Lords to Peter Law if he agreed not to stand as an independent candidate in the last general election.

Mr Law, who died last week, went on to win as an independent in Wales, defeating Labour candidate Maggie Jones.

Plaid Cymru leader Elfyn Llywd made the accusation against Mr Hain in the House of Commons today and said the peerage offer was made with the approval of Prime Minister Tony Blair.

However, Mr Hain has categorically denied the allegation, describing it as "utterly without substance".