Peter Hain has finally resigned

Peter Hain has become the first Cabinet Minister to resign under Gordon Brown, after his campaign donations were referred to the police.

The BBC is reporting that James Purnell, who was embroiled in a scandal of his own last year, will replace Mr Hain at the Department for Work and Pensions, whilst the Wales Office presently stands unfilled.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Hain said he regretted what had happened and felt he had “no alternative” but to resign. But Conservative Leader David Cameron said that “it’s the right decision, but it shouldn’t have happened in this way.

“I said some time ago the Prime Minister should have said to Peter Hain you’ve got to give a convincing explanation of your situation or you can’t stay in the Cabinet, instead we’ve had a long delay where one of the most important departments in Government hasn’t been led properly, and I think that was wrong. The Prime Minister should not have allowed this to go on for so long.”