Labour peer Peter Hain faces formal probe for 'failing to disclose conflict of interest' when airing sexual and racist allegations against Sir Philip Green

  • Peter Hain placed under investigation for 'failing to disclose conflict of interest'
  • The peer used Parliamentary privilege to air allegations against Sir Philip Green
  • Green, who ‘wholly’ denied the allegations, said he would lodge a complaint because Hain had failed to disclose his financial links to the law firm

Labour peer Peter Hain has been placed under formal investigation for allegedly failing to disclose a conflict of interest when he used Parliamentary privilege to air allegations against Sir Philip Green.

Lord Hain, pictured, named Green in the House of Lords last year as the businessman who had taken out an injunction to prevent the publication by the Daily Telegraph of allegations of sexual and racial harassment. 

Parliamentary privilege provides MPs and peers with legal immunity from slander or contempt of court when making statements in the normal course of their official duties within the House.  

Lord Hain, pictured, named Green in the House of Lords last year as the businessman who had taken out an injunction to prevent the publication by the Daily Telegraph of allegations of sexual and racial harassment

Lord Hain, pictured, named Green in the House of Lords last year as the businessman who had taken out an injunction to prevent the publication by the Daily Telegraph of allegations of sexual and racial harassment

But it soon emerged that Lord Hain is an adviser to Gordon Dadds, the law firm used by the Telegraph which had been blocked from printing the claims.

Green, who ‘wholly’ denied the allegations, said he would lodge a complaint because Hain had failed to disclose his financial links to the law firm. He branded the peer’s actions ‘outrageous’.

Now the House of Lords Standards Commissioner has said Hain is under inquiry for ‘alleged breach of the code in relation to declaration of interests’.

Last night, Lord Hain said: ‘There’s no infringement. I made it absolutely clear I had no idea they [law firm Gordon Dadds] were acting for the Telegraph, which I didn’t, and they didn’t tell me he [Green] was the person.’ 

Green, who ‘wholly’ denied the allegations, said he would lodge a complaint because Hain had failed to disclose his financial links to the law firm. He branded the peer’s actions ‘outrageous' [File photo]

Green, who ‘wholly’ denied the allegations, said he would lodge a complaint because Hain had failed to disclose his financial links to the law firm. He branded the peer’s actions ‘outrageous' [File photo]