Hain donations from pro-apartheid tycoon angers AM
15 January 2008
Plaid Cymru’s Bethan Jenkins AM has today questioned the political judgement of Peter Hain on learning that the Welsh Secretary accepted £14,600 in donations from pro-apartheid business tycoon, Isaac Kaye.
Isaac Kaye, 78, gave two separate donations to Mr Hain including one made as late as 19 November – five months after Peter Hain’s defeat in Labour’s deputy leadership bid.
Speaking today, Ms Jenkins said:
“Peter Hain’s family left South Africa in the late 60s because of their opposition to apartheid. Peter Hain was chair of an anti-apartheid group in the UK in the 70s. Election rules aside, we must question Mr Hain’s political judgement. How could he take thousands of pounds from a supporter of South Africa’s pro-apartheid National Party?”
Neath-based Ms Jenkins also highlighted Mr Hain’s hypocrisy. In an interview with the Guardian newspaper in 2001, Mr Hain is quoted as saying:
“The weakness of the newer generation of MPs and ministers, not all of them, is that they do not have those political and ideological roots.”
Ms Jenkins added:
“To use Peter Hain’s own terms: how can his political and ideological roots be reconciled with accepting donations from pro-apartheid donors such as Isaac Kaye?”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Hain’s 2001 interview with the Guardian can be found here:
Further information relating to Hain’s donations from Isaac Kaye can be found here:
For Further information please contact Steffan Lewis on 029 20 898 713 / 07961 732405
