Wales Peter Hain News

The First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones has just paid this tribute to Peter Hain:

Peter's has a played an important and prominent role in Welsh political life for many years. I'm sure whatever role Peter chooses to pursue awayfrom the Frontbench at Westminster, he will bring to it his great skills as a communicator and campaigner. I wish him all the very best for the future.

• Politics
• Carwyn Jones AM
• Labour

They're often at loggerheads in the Commons, but today Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan has nothing but warm words for her departing opposite number. Speaking from Thailand where she's on a five-day trade visit, Mrs Gillan said:

Peter Hain has had a long and distinguished career covering many departments. We have shadowed each other for many years in both Wales and the Foreign Office and I shall miss him.

Despite our political differences I know we share a joint ambition of achieving the best for Wales.

I look forward to working constructively with his successor in furthering Welsh interests.

• Politics
• Cheryl Gillan MP
• Labour

Severn Barrage wld be UK's biggest new investment project & create thousands of new jobs. This is biggest contribution I can make right now

From @PeterHain on Twitter: ( 5:47 am, Mon 14 May 2012)

Severn Barrage also biggest renewable energy project in Europe - time to make it a reality

From @PeterHain on Twitter: ( 5:48 am, Mon 14 May 2012)

• Politics
• environment
• Severn barrage

Peter Hain has announced he is standing down from the Shadow Cabinet.

He says he's taken the decision to resign in order to lead a campaign in Parliament for the building of a Severn Barrage.

• Politics
• Labour
• Peter Hain

When I spoke to Peter Hain earlier at Labour's victory celebrations in Cardiff, I asked him about reports which appeared in the press today claiming he's about to stand down as Shadow Welsh Secretary, prompting a reshuffle of Ed Miliband's shadow cabinet. This is what he said.

• Politics
• Peter Hain
• local elections

A lawyer defending Labour MP Peter Hain against claims he "scandalised a judge" has questioned whether the offence still exists in law.

At a preliminary court hearing in Belfast, David Dunlop also cast doubt on whether the case brought by Northern Ireland Attorney General John Larkin complied with the European Convention on Human Rights.

However, Mr Larkin defended his decision to prosecute the former Northern Ireland Secretary of State for critical comments he made about a High Court judge in his autobiography.

• Politics
• Peter Hain
• Northern Ireland

Shadow Welsh Secretary Peter Hain is to face legal action over critical comments he made about a leading Northern Irish judge in his recently-published memoir.

Mr Hain, a former Northern Ireland Secretary, made the comments about the handling of a judicial review case by Lord Justice Girvan in 2006.

The case is set to receive a first hearing at a Belfast court this morning, after the Attorney General of Northern Ireland claimed the passage "undermines the administration of justice". Both Mr Hain and his publisher, Biteback, face contempt of court charges.

In a statement, Biteback Managing Director Iain Dale said "as a publisher, I strongly support free speech, not least by our elected politicians, and we will therefore be vigorously defending this case.

• Politics
• Peter Hain
• Northern Ireland

• Politics
• Peter Hain
• Iain Dale