Hain hopes to clear name over donations

PETER Hain last night said he hoped to see his name cleared "as quickly as possible", after police handed prosecutors the results of their investigation into his Labour Party deputy leadership campaign.

Scotland Yard delivered its evidence file to the Crown Prosecution Service for a decision on whether charges should be brought over the failure to declare more than £100,000 in donations last year.

Mr Hain, who resigned as work and pensions secretary in January, said: "I have consistently provided them with all the information they might need, and I hope to see my name cleared quickly."

Mr Hain failed to declare gifts totalling £103,157 to his deputy leadership bid last summer.

He finally admitted the extent of the problems on 12 January, blaming administrative errors and vowing to stay in his Cabinet job. However, 12 days later – and after Gordon brown branded the situation "an incompetence" – he finally quit when the Electoral Commission referred the matter to the Yard.

The Met said: "We have had regular consultation with the CPS since the inquiry began, and it is now a matter for the CPS to consider the evidence and advise us on whether any further 1nquiries are necessary."