News from the New Party

Another Macavity moment

Our Prime Minister is facing yet another Macavity moment:

But Mr Brown admitted Mr Hain’s future is in the hands of Commons authorities probing the funding - the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner today indicated he DID have a case to answer.

The PM said: "Peter has done a great job and it would be a great loss if he had to leave the Government.

He took his eye off the ball and he has apologised. The matter must rest with the authorities, who will look at all these matters.

It would be my expectation that he will carry on in Government."

This hardly amounts to a ringing endorsement.  However, the idea that Gordon Brown is incapable of acting on the issue of Hain's campaign funding misdemeanours is preposterous.  Brown has the authority - if he chooses to use it.  As usual, however, when a tough decision comes up, Macavity looks for a sofa to hide behind.

Meanwhile, the business of government limps on: the Scottish Labour leader struggles on after being politically compromised by a comparatively piffling £950 donation, Harriet Harman is still in office notwithstanding serial stupidity over her own donor problems, and now Hain's shenanigans with the Pretend Policy Forum, through which much of his own donations in the Deputy Leadership campaign were channelled, with a total of over £100,000 in question.  Is it any surprise in the circumstances that government departments are dysfunctional when so many ministers seem unable to look after their own political financial affairs.

Gordon Brown's only option to restore confidence is a wholesale clearout: Harman and Hain should retire gracefully or be sacked; the hapless Wendy Alexander should be allowed to slip away quietly.  But all this would require a prime minister with courage.  Which is Peter Hain's best hope this morning.