Hain defiant after criticism he ‘took law into his own hands’

Lord Hain in the Lords this week LORD Hain last night rejected criticism of his decision to use parliamentary privilege to identify Sir Philip Green as the target for sexual harassment and bullying allegations.

The Labour peer came under fire yesterday after it emerged he has been a paid adviser to a legal firm involved in the case.

But Lord Hain insisted his work for a legal firm advising the Daily Telegraph “played absolutely no part” in his decision to identify the businessman.

He said: “I took the decision to name Sir Philip Green in my personal capacity as an independent member of the House Of Lords. I categorically state I was completely unaware Gordon Dadds were advising the Telegraph regarding this case.

“They were completely unaware of my intentions until after I spoke in the House of Lords.”

Legal experts questioned the former Cabinet minister’s decision to exercise his right to name Sir Philip because the case is going through the courts.

Former attorney general Dominic Grieve QC said Lord Hain’s behaviour had been “clearly arrogant” and he had abused parliamentary privilege in deciding he knew better than the courts.

“You cannot operate a democratic, free society subject to the rule of law when peers or MPs decide quite capriciously to take the law into their own hands,” he told BBC Radio 4’s World at One.

The law firm Gordon Dadds said that Lord Hain provided “occasional advice”, mainly in relation to Africa, and “has no involvement in the advice that we provide to The Telegraph newspaper and he had no knowledge of any sensitive information regarding this case”.

Sir Philip denies the allegations.