Peter Hain resigns

1.10.24pm GMT Thu 24th Jan 2008

Peter Hain MP

The Electoral Commission has this morning referred the case of Peter Hain's Deputy Leadership donations to the Police. As a result Peter Hain has resigned from the Cabinet to attempt to prove his innocence.

He failed to declare donations totalling more than £100,000 by the legal date required, I am not sure how he intends to prove his innocence - ignorance or more likely incompetence is not a defence in law.