Fish and kettles
Despite the efforts (of course in the name of impartiality) of the BBC to bracket Peter Hain with senior Conservatives, it just doesn’t wash. All of us who have had to register an item have had at times had very un-specific advice. It is difficult to understand why both the Register of Members’ Interests and the Electoral Commission need to be informed with differing criteria. It would be simpler to have one register with clearly defined rules.
I get an income from letting out a flat, and years ago set up a small trust for my children. There is absolutely no crystal clear advice as to whether to declare these, but erring on the side of caution – as advised – I did. It truly is difficult to understand what this has to do with my parliamentary obligations. Believe me there are significant grey areas.
However in the Peter Hain situation, it is a totally different kettle of fish.
Two Labour MPs are busy trawling again, clearly in an orchestrated way. Last year they reported me for an alleged transgression. It was rubbish. If they really wanted to know the reality of the situation they could have easily asked me. The reputation of the Government has been badly damaged. For this Government, the mud is now firmly sticking. Incompetence extends well beyond a single Cabinet Minister.