The Hain Diaries and the editors

Lord Peter Hain thanks all those who helped him to edit his newly published diaries but columnist Stan looks beyond the covers and asks a question:

"When Peter Hain uses four employees to assist him with his book, even if all this work they do is entirely unpaid and voluntary, in their own time and in their roles as "close friends", the onus shouldn't be on us to establish the precise nature of such arrangements. Because of the possibility that such relationships could be misinterpreted, and these are all people paid out of the public purse, then preferably they should not work on such projects. But if they choose to do so, as "close friends", it should be made crystal clear that the contributions made by them were entirely separate from any work they were paid to perform for him as an MP. We should expect no less. Otherwise it's only right and proper that articles such as this put all these facts out in the public domain so that people are aware of these links, can ask their own questions - and ultimately draw their own conclusions.

This isn't the first time I've come across Peter Hain and these blurred lines. There will be more to come."

Read the full report in Stan Direct (menu).

No apologies are made for the image of Lord Peter Hain as Stan reveals his dark side - see Readers Letters.