Hain 'should consider position'

Peter Hain also hopes to become Labour Party deputy leader

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain should consider his position if a judge's criticism of him is upheld, according to a Welsh MP.

An inquiry is investigating criticism of Mr Hain over the appointment of Victims' Commissioner Bertha McDougall.

Last week, Mr Justice Girvan was scathing about what he described as Mr Hain's "improper political motive" in giving Mrs McDougall the job.

Plaid Cymru MP Elfyn Llwyd the judge's criticisms were "devastating".

On Friday, a High Court judge was to further consider what action to take over the appointment. However, his ruling has been postponed.

Conservative Clwyd West MP David Jones urged Mr Hain, who is also the Welsh Secretary, to seriously consider whether he could carry on in the posts.

Mr Hain said he was "studying the judgement carefully".

The judge said the appointment of Mrs McDougall, whose policeman husband was murdered by the republican INLA, was a politically motivated confidence-building gesture to unionists.

'Very demanding'

He said Mr Hain failed to consider that there was no evidence that Mrs McDougall would command support from both nationalist and unionist communities.

Mr Justice Girvan also accused civil servants of "providing misleading and incorrect information" about the appointment process.

Mr Jones described the judges comments as "trenchant, very damning criticism".

"It's a very demanding call for anybody to do two important jobs as secretaries of state and I think he ought to give serious consideration as to whether he can carry on doing both".

Mr Llwyd, a barrister, told BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye programme that the judge's criticisms were "devastating".

"The comments are scathing, as trenchant as you can get from a High Court judge," he said.

He added: "If the judge's criticism is well founded... then it calls into question the confidence of the people of Wales in the secretary of state and secondly whether (he) in due course should consider his position".

A spokesman for the secretary of state said Mr Llwyd's comments were "preposterous".

Mr Hain told BBC Wales he was considering the judge's criticisms but stressed the importance of the work being done on the ground in Northern Ireland.

He said: "Obviously, we're studying the judgement carefully and we're looking at the consequences of that.

"But the big picture is I was acting on behalf of victims and will continue to do so."