More Questions Asked About Hain's Corporate Endorsements
Chris Grayling has written to Peter Hain listing pertinent questions. As has been pointed out previously on this blog, under the terms of electoral law, to be permissible, any company, such as the faux think tank, Progressive Policies Forum Limited, has to be actually trading in the UK.Grayling ask what PPF's "status actually is, what due diligence your campaign carried out into it, and what involvement you have had with it?"
He also asks about the corporate endorsements highlighted on here over the last week
"In your statement on Saturday afternoon you said that you had ‘checked with my Permanent Secretary whether there is any conflict of interest’. This statement raises more questions than it answers – questions it is essential you answer fully and urgently:
· I assume that ‘Permanent Secretary’ here refers to the Department for Work and Pensions; who have you contacted in the Wales Office to make the same checks regarding conflicts of interest?
· Have you discussed with the Permanent Secretary at the DWP and appropriate officials in the Wales Office comments you have made supporting Picture Financial Services, Tesco, the Cuddy Group, and indeed any other companies you have endorsed as a minister?
· When did you first make the Permanent Secretary at the DWP and appropriate senior officials in the Wales Office aware that donations to your deputy leadership campaign had been made by Neville Allport (CEO of Picture Financial), Steve Morgan (whose lobbying firm represents Tesco) and Mike Cuddy (Managing Director of Cuddy Group)?"
The conflict-of-interest aspect is the subject of Guido's complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. It is a fascinating coincidence that donors to Hain's Steve Morgan run campaign as well as clients of Morgan-the-Organ's lobbying firm get gushing praise from their financial beneficiary - Peter Hain.All too fascinating for Guido...
22 comments:
This is getting like death by a thousand cuts for Hain, you could almost feel sorry for him, almost but not quite! The more you hear about this whole saga the worse it gets.
If it falls to Hain to start a fight to cut out the cancer of bent and twisted journalism in our country with the simple sword of fake sun-tans and the trusty shield of South African fair play, so be it*.
How reassuring it must be for him to know that The Labour Party is right behind him. Literally right behind him. With knives.
The 'Most Egregious Example of Hubris' Award goes to Labour MP Chris Ruane, however.
He is quoted by the government's official spokesbroadcaster, the BBC.
Ruane said that the media 'had acted as "judge, jury and executioner" in both Mr Hain and Mr Osborne's case - but added: "What George Osborne's case does prove is that mistakes can be made."'
* With apologies to Jonathan Aitken.
Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!
Mind you, the hounds may be disappointed. Nothing to kill but a crisp piece of toast.
There's nothing new under the sun ... (with apologies and maximum respec to Rudyard Kipling)
Now all you ambitious back-benchers today
Just switch off your iPods an’ ‘ark to my lay
An’ I’ll give you a warning as clear as I may
Follow Hain and your prospects will moulder
When the Deputy Leadership contest comes round
An’ your team says we need ‘alf a million pound
An’ your *think-tank* assures you the money’s been found
Think of Hain and just give ‘em the shoulder
When you’re caught bang to rights in a scandal like Hain’s
When your face is the colour of ripe mango stains
Jes swallow your whisky and blow out your brains
An’ go to your Gord like a soldier
Actually Tories would be smart to drag this out as long as possible. The drip drip of Tango-gate, plus Donor-gate, plus Harmen-gate and Alexander-gate coming up soom will destroy the Brown new year re-branding and enforce the stench the now wafts from NuLab.
"The address to which the message has not yet been delivered is:
hainp@parliament.gov.uk
No action is required on your part. Delivery attempts will continue for
some time, and this warning may be repeated at intervals if the message
remains undelivered. Eventually the mail delivery software will give up,
and when that happens, the message will be returned to you."
did I get his address wrong? I used a link off here or is the phone off the hook as it were.
So Brown claims that Hain's fate is out of his hands? What a load of old cobblers! Brown could sack him now if he so desired.
That Brown allows Hain to cling on like this betrays his weakness and complicity.
Shame on you, Mr. Brown! You are no better than your predecessor.
Shit-bag - no apologies are due to Jonathan Aitken. He did the crime and he did the time. Now it's Hain's turn. Just imagine the prison pallor after 6 months inside.
I see that the link to the clients page of Steve Morgan's PR company is
"currently being updated"
and is - for now at least - blank.
Will the last client out, please switch off the lights, perhaps?
Every day brings me great joy as Hain dies the death of a thousand Jaffa Cakes.
Nick Drew - bootiful, just bootiful the orange fucker is trussed up like a turkey, and Guido is going to get his wattles.
Shit-bag you have uncovered a'little local diificulty' for Chris Ruane MP, who has his very own 'Hain donor' pic on Rhyl FC Lilywhties online blog where he features in a promo photo for a Ruane donor Anglian Builders and Decorators Ltd based in Rhyl. Coincidentally, I am sure, another Ruane donor Parry, shares a common surname with an Anglian surname.
Soehow, I suspect any connection with Pensioner Phain is proving to be toxic for his MP supporters and their bankers.
Surprise the list of clients has disappeared from the Morgan Allen Moore website. What a firm all women including it seems Morgan's grandmother or is it his wife?
Luverly jubberly!
Oh what a lovely mess. I hope 'Hain the Pain' remains for a longtime yet !!!
Err ... that would be "trading" or "holding investments". The legislation says "carrying on business" which means trading or making and managing/holding investments (i.e. an investment business).
Just thought I would point it out.
Word verification: iknow
Top work Guido.
"This is getting like death by a thousand cuts for Hain, you could almost feel sorry for him, almost but not quite! The more you hear about this whole saga the worse it gets."
Feel sorry for him? No effing way. Get the bastard Guido.
So with corruption at the core of our Government,the Police poised to get involved e.t.c. the BBC 10 o'clock news leads with "nothing's changed in Zimbawe".The rot at the heart of our ruling party,an ongoing story, creeps into 3rd spot....why's that then?
Yes, hain's e-mail is blocked.
'He's going to make a statement, Jesus sake
It's like talking to the wall
He's incommunicado, no comment to make
He's saying nothing at all'
KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KI... sorry, getting carried away there, been watching cagefighting DVD's again.
The Grauniad is reporting that Morgan is 'revolted' by the fact that Hain had solicited donations from the unThink Tank. He says his job finished on the day of the election.
Well I never, boyo, talk about honour amongst thieves.
Peter Grimes
Post a Comment