UK watchdog to question Hain on donations

UK Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain is to face a full parliamentary “sleaze” inquiry over his failure to declare £103,000 (€135,555) in donations to his Labour deputy leadership campaign, it was confirmed today.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, John Lyon, has ruled that the minister does have a case to answer, the commissioner’s office said.

The decision followed a complaint lodged last week by Tory MP David Davies that Mr Hain broke Commons rules by failing to declare the payments in the Register of Members’ Interests.

A spokeswoman for the commissioner said: “An inquiry is in hand. He is investigating the complaint.”

Mr Hain was already under investigation by the UK Electoral Commission – the official elections watchdog – for failing to inform it of the donations under party funding laws.