The BBC reported (1) on 30 June 2006:

Hain sceptical on nuclear power

Mr Blair has raised the prospect of new nuclear power stations

Peter Hain has broken rank with the Cabinet to express doubts about building new nuclear power stations.

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Source: [1]

On 22 January 2008 in an interview with The New Statesman[2] Hain was quoted as saying "I've never hidden the fact that I've never been a fan of nuclear power." The interview referred to his support for the Dublin government in its lobbying to keep the island of Ireland nuclear-free and his arguements in cabinet to increase the emphasis on renewable sources in the past energy review.

The Wylfa nuclear power station is due to be decommissioned in 2010, putting the jobs of the workers at the neighbouring electricity-hungry aluminium works in jeopardy. In January in 2007, Hain appeared to have weakened his opposition to nuclear power when he accepted that Wylfa was a likely place for a new nuclear station, but only because, although he accepted the cabinet's decision to allow companies to bid for new nuclear power stations, he remains sceptical it will happen. "Let's see if anyone wants to build one of these things, you know. I remain doubtful about that. But I'm also clear that it's government's responsibility to keep the lights on and keep energy supply secure."[3]

As Secretary of State for Wales, his lack of enthusiasm for nuclear power might well have put off a nuclear developer not wishing to invest in a planning application for the Wylfa replacement to see it turned down by the Welsh Assembly. His support would have been crucial in the end game.

The Progressive Policies Forum (PPF) was set up just over a year ago - three months after Hain declared his candidacy for the deputy leadership of the Labour party. John Underwood, who was a key figure in the Hain campaign and is thought to be a driving force behind the PPF, issued a statement saying that the think-tank had been set up to "advance progressive policies through research and other political activities".[4]

After it became clear that the Labour deputy leadership campaign “Hain4Labour” had significantly overspent, it was decided that contributions made to PPF should be used to help meet this overspend. It appears that without Hain’s knowledge his campaign manager spent an inordinate sum in promoting him for the deputy leadership and then drew on the PPF funds and other sources to “help” Hain meet the debts of which he apparently had no knowledge.

Here’s a conspiracy theory! Was this overspend a deliberate character assassination designed to give the impression of an over-weaning self esteem on the part of Hain and to bring him into conflict with the Electoral Commission and the Parliamentary Standards and Privileges Committee putting him in jeopardy for non-compliance of House of Commons rules? He denies he knew of the overspend or the means of paying the campaign debts.

In 1976, Hain was tried and acquitted for bank robbery, allegedly framed by South African intelligence. Maybe this inspired those worried about his potential hindrance to a nuclear renaissance in Wales to plot his downfall. The police investigation may well clear him once again — but fail to uncover a plot.

But in his stead is Paul Murphy as the new Secretary of State for Wales with an enthusiasm for nuclear power. If it was a conspiracy to oust Peter Hain, it has for the moment succeeded — but may end up as Gordon Brown’s “Wylfagate”, though perhaps, as appears to be the case for Hain, without his knowledge.

[1] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5134692.stm

[2] http://www.newstatesman.com/200701220013

[3] http://www.newstatesman.com/200701220013

[4] http://politics.guardian.co.uk/funding/story/0,,2239604,00.html