Guy Fawkes' blog of parliamentary plots, rumours and conspiracy: <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Exclusive :</span><br>Leaked Email Reveals Another Undeclared Hain Donation

Monday, January 28, 2008

Exclusive :
Leaked Email Reveals Another Undeclared Hain Donation

The Association of Professional Political Consultants emergency meeting of its management committee scheduled for today will consider a complaint about Steve Morgan of Morgan Allen Moore, ("MAM") the public affairs firm linked to the Peter Hain's donations.

Morgan the Organ not only made a £5,000 donation to the fake think-tank and allowed the Hain4Labour campaign to use MAM offices. Cheques to Hain4Labour were sent via the Cardiff offices of MAM before ending up in the campaign coffers. The fake Progressive Polices Forum think tank shares a London address with MAM as well.

These actions breach the APPC code of conduct, which states that members

must keep strictly separate from their duties and activities as political consultants any personal activity or involvement on behalf of a political party.

Steve Morgan is presumably going to try and claim that this was all done in a personal capacity. Herein lies a problem, the Hain4Labour campaign had use of MAM staff. For example Kate Lewis, head of MAM's Cardiff office was working on the campaign - which also begs the question why no donation in kind was registered? Her services do not come cheap and would not fall below the non-declarable £1000 threshold.

From: "Steve Morgan"
To: "Geraint Davies", "Kate Lewis", "Hugh Roberts", "Andrew Stallard", "Wayne David", "CARBERRY, Joe", "Albert Owen", "Chris Ruane", "Huw ID", "Eluned Morgan"

Subject: Meeting
Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2007 16:20

Thanks for coming to the meeting with Peter on Saturday we're really glad to have you on board and grateful for your support for Peter's campaign.

There are two items we need to deal with immediately.

1. First meeting date.

If everyone's ( MPs are welcome but there's no whip!!) happy to meet in Cardiff for an hour over lunch we can use my offices down on the Bay. Can you make either the 8th, 13th or 14th of March?

2. Wales-wide network.

We talked about getting a key supporter in every constituency. If you know of anyone who can fill these roles for us can you let me know (with contact details please) before we meet. Can you also let me know which constituencies you're in.

Thanks

Steve

The significance of this email is twofold; it was sent from Morgan the Organ's MAM office and demonstrates that MAM was effectively Hain's campaign base and that MAM staff such as Kate Lewis were running the campaign. This clearly breaks the APPC's Code of Conduct.

It also means that there is yet another undeclared to the Electoral Commission benefit-in-kind donation probably worth tens of thousands of pounds...

52 comments:

why is hain still an MP Brown? said...: give up your MP seat Hain - give it up to someone we can trust!

you are a disgrace along with your party that allows you to cling on to power.

the good news is that you will be voted out and will NEVER see power again.; January 28, 2008 12:44 PM
Anonymous said...: I'd go easy on the value of MAM's services, given that their campaign was a complete failure.

Something about knowing the price of everything but the value of nothing.; January 28, 2008 12:46 PM
Faceless Bureaucrat said...: I'm sure we can rely on the APPC to take the appropriate action in this matter...; January 28, 2008 12:48 PM
Hayne's world, party time said...: When will the EC 'report' on Wendy Alexander? I was amazed to see that one of her donors was a parliamentry lobbyist for the EC, perhaps the term conflict of interest is not in a nuLab lexicon.

Johnson is being hung out to dry as the delusional one has decided to leave it to the EC to judge Johnson's actions.; January 28, 2008 12:50 PM
living in a banana republic based on debt said...: Great work Guido!

Hain should resign his seat in disgrace. He is an unscrupulous spiv as are those he gathers around him. I suppose he is only taking his lead from Brown and his coterie of spivs like Jon Mendelson.

What an unprecedently vile shower we have in government.; January 28, 2008 12:54 PM
Anonymous said...: If keeping business and personal activities is to be interpreted as not undertaking any personal activities at their business office - then I suspect nearly all political consultants (of whatever political views) will all be as guilty as hell - but perhaps that is the nature of the breed anyway!

Either way I wouldn't hold out much hope of the trade body finding any of its members guilty on that score.; January 28, 2008 12:57 PM
Carlos the Slackal said...: 'Ere, Guido, any chance you could sink your investagative nose in to this Northern Crock related story;

http://www.scrumbag.tv/2008/01/newcastle-falco.html

Seems the Crock splurged a fair few quid at housewives favourite jonny Wilkinson and his team.....; January 28, 2008 12:58 PM
Welsh Tory said...: Is That Huw ID the MP Huw Irranca Davies?; January 28, 2008 1:01 PM
Anonymous said...: Individuals giving their own time does not constitute a benefit in kond for PPERA purposes - it would only be a benfit in kind if Kate Lewis was required to work on the Hain campaign by her employer - this is an accusation for which you have provided no evidence whatsoever and could be considered libellous.; January 28, 2008 1:04 PM
Koba said...: One thing I am sure of is, if Hain gave up his seat one of Browns’ cronies or relation of a cabinet member would be an official candidate.; January 28, 2008 1:05 PM
Anonymous said...: The fact that the meetings were on Saturday and over lunch might also suggest that everyone was doing this in their own time. But don't let the facts get in the way of your prejudices.; January 28, 2008 1:08 PM
Dr J Underwood said...: It was the Maesteg Maggot!!!!; January 28, 2008 1:10 PM
Anonymous said...: It is Monday.

Time for another Bean re-launch.

Time for him to re-announce something.

Or perhaps something new "A thousand troops home for pancake day."

Bean you are a disgrace, your leadership qualities a disgrace, your handling of the economy a disgrace.

Others have said it better:

You sign your place and calling, in full seeming,
With meekness and humility; but your heart
Is cramm'd with arrogancy, spleen, and pride.
Henry VIII 2.4.118-20; January 28, 2008 1:13 PM
Anonymous said...: just because someone uses your office/mail server it doesn't mean that you are acting on their behalf?; January 28, 2008 1:16 PM
backwoodsman said...: anony troll,
over lunch... 'we can use my office down by the bay'.
nulab = Serially Incompetent
Criminally Corrupt; January 28, 2008 1:18 PM
Anonymous said...: We should sentence them all to death by firing squad except we can't afford the bullets since this shower bankrupted us; January 28, 2008 1:20 PM
Anonymous said...: Is there a firm of political consultants in the UK where the employees/owners do not have their own political views and to which thet can devote their own personal time. I very much doubt it - and if they did they probably wouldn't have any clients.; January 28, 2008 1:21 PM
Anonymous said...: Err, anon 1.08:

In my calender, the 8th march is a Thursday, the 13th a tuesday etc...

Perhaps for you beeboids / nulab astro-turfer wastrels every day is a weekend?; January 28, 2008 1:23 PM
strapworld said...: anonymous 1.16pm.

stop being bloody ridiculous. The old maxim fits for you. Engage brain before opening mouth.

OF COURSE IT BLOODY WELL DOES!; January 28, 2008 1:23 PM
Tuscan Tony said...: anon, the email was sent Thursday at 4.20pm. Outside of the civil service that sort of time is generally considered "normal working hours".; January 28, 2008 1:30 PM
Tuscan Tony said...: Guido, old chap, for how long is this comment moderation malarkey likely to continue? Is that conspiracy loon of the other week still hanging about your office dumpster?; January 28, 2008 1:32 PM
Julian said...: Peter Hain sounds like the absolutely ideal man to be hired by any major international bank needing a fast excuse for its subprime losses. Like poor Jerome Kerviel, Hain's employer could easily dump several billions of losses on those orange shoulders and, let's face it, if Hain can't recall what he spent £100,000 on then hiding €5.6Bn on him is going to be cinch.; January 28, 2008 1:32 PM
speedcameraman said...: WelshTory

Most probably it is Irranca Davies. Albert Owen is the MP for Anglesey and Ruane for Denbighshire (until the next election that is)

How nice that those annoying self imprtant prats Thick as thieves and 45govt are not polluting this thread.

No doubt will be along soon with some inane drivel about how eveyone are trolls.
dickeads.; January 28, 2008 1:36 PM
Julian said...: One other puzzling thing with that email. Why isn't Phil Woolas, the environment minister, who was Hain's campaign manager on that list? Also is Woolas on the police's list of MP's to be questioned regarding Hain?; January 28, 2008 1:41 PM
the janitor said...: Anonymous said @ 1:16 PM...

"Just because someone uses your office/mail server it doesn't mean that you are acting on their behalf?"

Why the question mark? See, that's when you use it, when you ask a question. Not when you make a statement.

Unless you're a bloody Aussie?; January 28, 2008 1:46 PM
Anonymous said...: Speedcamerawoman wnts t mt speedcameraman - gsoh imp pref ns & MS.

You can have your wicked way with me under any bridge anytime. Mwaaaaaaa!; January 28, 2008 1:55 PM
evil bastard said...: anonymous said...

"We should sentence them all to death by firing squad except we can't afford the bullets since this shower bankrupted us"

This is far too good for them - quick and painless. No, they should have all their skin slowly peeled off, and the bit that's left should be rolled in chili powder and then slowly immersed in hot vinegar. And it should be shown on live TV.; January 28, 2008 1:56 PM
Anonymous said...: I see that Lee Jasper is even further in the sh*t today...

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23434468-details/Mayor%27s+aide%3A+Police+move+in/article.do; January 28, 2008 2:02 PM
Faceless Bureaucrat said...: speedcameraman (1.36)

Come, come now o speeding one - whilst agreeing that Thick as Thieves and 45govt can be a little 'forthright' in their views and comments at times, it's what the blogosphere is there for - the alternative is relying on the MSM for news and comment....; January 28, 2008 2:08 PM
speedcameraman said...: Faceless Bureaucrat

Forthwrong views and comments insofar as identifying me as a nulabor troll is concerned. Pair of self-appointed pricks IMHO.

Skools nearly finished so they'll soon be along with a vitriolic attack that will see me off for sure.
Heh!; January 28, 2008 2:19 PM
crackers said...: MAM's contribution to Hain campaign is the political equivalent of negative equity.

Organ will close MAM which is now holed below the waterline.; January 28, 2008 2:24 PM
45govt said...: Speedcameracunt, I don't believe I've had the pleasure of making your acquaintance, so clearly you have the advantage of me.
I did enquire after your "professional" opinion on the Dunblane / Operation Ore issue on the Toilets McGuire made up story thread, but you seemed to have nothing to say.
Don't be nervous old man, I'm much gentler than thickasthieves, and much slower at spotting a total arsehole than he is.; January 28, 2008 2:24 PM
thick as thieves said...: speedcameraman,
you haven't addressed my accusation that you are a racist.
would you like to take the opportunity to do so now, you spineless cunt?; January 28, 2008 2:25 PM
thick as thieves said...: faceless,
I take that as a compliment and I thank you sir.; January 28, 2008 2:28 PM
45govt said...: Me too Mr Bureaucrat!; January 28, 2008 2:35 PM
speedcameraman said...: Hmm, skwl finished eraly girls?; January 28, 2008 2:47 PM
thick as tjieves said...: not a new labour troll hmmm....
but you are in favour of police pay being cut and you have posted derogatory remarks about black people. so the police pay business means you could be a conservative because they plan to stick to labour spending plans. the racist views you hold mean you could be a member of the fascist bnp party.
aren't you proud of your political affiliations speedcameraman?
come on, don't be shy, what have you got to hide?
on balance,I think you are probably a conservative.
with cunts like you on board the tories are in big trouble.; January 28, 2008 2:48 PM
thick as thieves said...: not a new labour troll hmmm....
but you are in favour of police pay being cut and you have posted derogatory remarks about black people. so the police pay business means you could be a conservative because they plan to stick to labour spending plans. the racist views you hold mean you could be a member of the fascist bnp party.
aren't you proud of your political affiliations speedcameraman?
come on, don't be shy, what have you got to hide?
on balance,I think you are probably a conservative.
with cunts like you on board the tories are fucked before they even get into power.; January 28, 2008 2:50 PM
Anonymous said...: As a general comment...

I'm no regular to this blog, but judging by the use of the 'C' word by some individuals it is clear to me that politics and democracy in this country is clearly the domain of little boys who think it's big and clever to use such language. You are all a disgrace to this country and need to grow up before your mummies allow you out to play at politics.; January 28, 2008 4:04 PM
Anonymous said...: problem is that the APPC is itself a pretty corrupt organisation. Recent complaints of non compliance with the code have been forgiven and or ignored. Perhaps that's because once was against the Chair, who then instructed the management committee not to investigate and another was against one of her mates, a former chair, who, surprise surprise, was also 'exonerated'.; January 28, 2008 4:20 PM
45govt said...: Erm.. anon have you heard our politicians speak at all?
With the noted exception of the sainted Mrs T, they would make a determined blogger blush.
Mr Fawkes offers a full refund policy for those who are not happy playing here with we kiddies. I suggest you avail yourself of it at the earliest opportunity.; January 28, 2008 4:51 PM
BrianSJ said...: Ref Anaon and the relaunch. The big event for the minister for plastic bags ought to be Kirkcaldy going Plastic Bag Free. I'm sure the previous announcement was an aspiration and we'll get a 'commitment' for Pancake Tuesday (named after the state of the economy)
http://www.adoptabeach.org.uk/pages/page.php?cust_id=80
and
http://plasticbagwatch.blogspot.com/ is where the action will be.
This is the challenge for the Supreme Leader in the Age of Change.; January 28, 2008 4:59 PM
samantha peckinpah said...: evil bastard 1:56pm

preferably with a sizzling slow motion action replay; January 28, 2008 9:30 PM
fanny craddock's sado-cannibalistic soul food said...: 1:56 PM

What a scrumptious recipe darling! I must include it in my forthcoming book of political delicacies. Should I call it Spicy Left Wings, Fishy Mingers, Turkey Swizzlers? Fried until a nice orangy brown, one would think.

A great solution for those otherwise useless left-overs.

Now let me get back to perfecting the centrepiece dish for my next dinner-party...it's called Jock au Vin...it'll be a very conservative do...you know me.; January 28, 2008 9:58 PM
drunken tory said...: According to the electoral register, Jon Cruddas hasn't paid his 15% tithe from his failed deputy leadership campaign to the Labour party yet.; January 28, 2008 10:20 PM
the outlaw jessie hains said...: 12:44 PM

I totally disagree.

You see...

Once upon a time there was a rather naughty little boy who sold his mummy's best cow Credibility for a handful of seeds of unknown origin. His mummy was so angry she threw them out into the back yard where, as if by magic... and they grew and they grew and they grew until there a huge Beanstalk in his garden, which he named BS, for short...and all it did was give him loads and loads of dosh.

That wasn't me by the way.

OK, I'll tell you what really happened...you see there was this think-thingy and it was nothing to do with me but all it did was keep sending me money. Really came in very handy. Honestly, I knew absolutely nothing about the tank-job...I was playing cricket at the time...ah really dig da game man. But I've stopped digging for the moment, as it happens.

My god, all this money...seems like I'm going to succumb to a rock 'n roll lifestyle...

I'm off to shoot some oranges.; January 28, 2008 10:49 PM
wild willy prescock said...: hi there outlaw!

shoot 'em up cowboy!!!

I'm in for some of that there action too!

oops, sorry...you looked just the same colour old fruit!!!; January 28, 2008 10:53 PM
Barclay Bare said...: Do not bank on Mr Hain. He might get a jail sentence, eventually.; January 29, 2008 2:26 AM
newlabourtroll said...: Peter Hain's campaign was run from a rented office in Victoria Street - I think there was even a picture posted of it on here. MAM offices were not used to run the campaign & Steve Morgan worked out of Victoria Street when he was working on the Hain campaign.

The donations-in-kind part of the levy (required by the Labour Party and not PPERA) refers to those people who carry out a specific task for a campaign in relation (usually) to their professional skills eg a web designer creating a website. If said web designer stuffs envelopes for 2 hours, then there is no donation-in-kind levy for the cost of a web designer for 2 hours.

I thought you were in the business of stuff which is considerably better than this - there's reporting genuine misdemeanours and other goings-on, and there's stretching a tiny bit of information so tightly it rips...thought you were a bit more of a class act than that Guido...; January 29, 2008 1:21 PM
thick as thieves said...: I see the new labour troll strategy is to bore us all to death.
hold on.... is that you gordon you fucking cunt?
anyway don't give us all that shit about 'if a web designer is stuffing envelopes' web designers don't stuff envelopes you fucking retard, what they do is charge £200 per hour to design websites. if you are such a fucking moron that you've got them stuffing envelopes then that goes a long way to explaining why you've made such a pig's ear of running this country.
fucking hell! where do they get these lunatics from? wherever it is I wish they would fuck off back there.; January 29, 2008 9:03 PM
Anonymous said...: The fact that newlabourtroll doesn't seem to view MAM's underhand role at the centre of this whole murky affair as "genuine misdemeanours and other goings-on", would suggest that he is in fact a desperately back-peddling Maesteg Maggot himself.

Talking of which, any news on the APPC book-throwing front? Lobbying outfits have been expelled for less than this. Imagine getting kicked out of a self-regulating organisation of sleazy lobbyists. You'd have to be pretty damn sleazy.; January 29, 2008 10:36 PM
anonymong said...: 'Stuffing envelopes' was by way of example - the more basic a concept the better it seems to me, judging by the responses that appear on this site.

You're obviously alien to the idea of people volunteering their time because they want to help - whether they're doctors, lawyers, stay at home mums or dinnerladies - and are willing to do whatever is necessary.

But then, I forgot, you lot are all obsessed with money and wouldn't do something for nothing even with the end of your knobs.

No, you guys are in the business of doing nothing for something - like getting paid for being a researcher when you're actually getting pissed at university.

Scandals - is that a better word for you? - will always go on; Hain, Harman & Johnson might not have registered donations properly, and even if they have accepted them from third parties, they spent the money on their campaigns...funny though, isn't it, that the ones involving Tories wind up with the cash going right into their own pockets.

Glass houses??; January 30, 2008 12:27 PM

Monday, January 28, 2008

Exclusive :Leaked Email Reveals Another Undeclared Hain Donation

52 comments:

Exclusive :
Leaked Email Reveals Another Undeclared Hain Donation