What else would you expect him to say? Politicians wouldn't know the truth if it jumped up and bit them.

judy, Liverpool, England

These people are running the country - Too busy,forgetful,administrative error, admitted 'incompetence the list of excuses is endless. You would not trust any of them to run a sweet shop - They might get an A level running a burger bar but you cannot help thinking the takings would be short every single day.

Nigel Ashurst, Leicester, England

Another example of "NEW LABOUR" morals or is it "OLD" habits. We deserve better but its in our own hands to do something about this lot at any election soon. Make the rules break the rules but say "SORRY" and its OK

G.J. Mason, CARDIFF, WALES

Here on a three-year student visa at 50! How very interesting. More information, please.

JM SMith, guildford, surrey

"The Health Secretary admitted last night that the gift was one of four donations he had received that have not yet appeared on the register . . . . . . . "

Oh! Pleeeeeze!

OK folks.

Next time you fill in a tax return try this -

Well Mr Tax Inspector, I didn't realise that I had to declare all my income - I thought that they just appeared on the return.

Yeh! Right!

R Bingham, Lauzun, France

Why is someone who is on a 'student visa' [at 50?], listed on the electoral role, surely he cannot be entitled to vote in our British elections? It is quite obvious that Mr Ahmed Yar Mohammed wished to make the donation without being named! The reasons why he wished to hide his donation can only be speculated about at this point but he should face investigation. A change in the law requiring all donations to be direct only is needed, with one independant central body to act as a 'clearing house' and manage donations for all parties.

Les, Southport, England (a country, not a state)

Yet another one! The entire list of candidates for the Deputy Leadership should make a joint clean breast of it now and just get the thing over with.

One really has to wonder just why so much money was sloshed around in the campaign to succeed Prescott. There is more to this than meets the eye methinks.

Bill, Suzhou, China

Despite changing the law on political donations that same political party seem incapable or either understanding it or had no intention to comply with it anyway. Hiding the name of a sponsor is illegal and is exactly the same technique as money laundering used by criminal drug gangs. These arrogant Labour politicians seem to either think the electorate is too stupid with all their variety of lame excuses such as too busy, wasn't aware, didn't understand and such like or are just plain arrogant towards those who elect them into power. The public never gets away with the sort of excuses they have escaped with when appearing in court. Its way overdue for some of these sleaze bags to be arrested & charged and maybe if found guilty in a court they'd think twice next time.

Mike, Alicante, Spain

Why do such senior people in the government fail to comply with rules they have framed and passed themselves ? Is it arogance or incompetence? It cannot be ignorance.
More importantly what is the motive behind all this deception and these opaque financial transactions ? Surely it cannot be the motive we all fear. ?
But then I can think of no other. Can you, dear reader ??

Diddly Do, Liverpool,

It is so disconcerting to see that some politicians keep tossing and turning to deny what they in the end have to admit and what they knew all along. You wonder what others have in their cupboards.
I also do not believe that there is a single donor who doesn’t want something in return. Complete openness is the only answer or probably to do away with separate funds.
Fortunately we still have the press to guard over our democratic freedoms.

Dr Willem van IJperen, Elgin, Moray / Scotland

Corruption in the Labour party is clearly endemic they all seem to think they are above the law.

D Case, Newquay,

50 year old foriegn student giving £50,000 to a goverment minister??

Danny, London, uk

Johnson was being interviewed by Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 when the Hain news broke.

The news was obviously a surprise and Vine said that Johnson looked 'shocked'.

Maybe not so much by Hain's fate as a prediction of his own!!

Jonathan, Farnham, England

Victor from Chelsford asks what a state we are in.

I feel (and this is not a party political point, I think it applies to all politicians) that in both the UK and Europe as a whole the political class has lost all credibility in its claim to represent the people. It serves itself only. The democracy towards which the West has struggled for the last 2,500 years has been thrown away in favour of a myriad of personal ambitions. It is a disgrace.

John, Kenilworth,

David Rochester, the Deputy leadership was elected by the 350+ Labour MPs, the 200,000 Labour Party members and 4,000,000 levy-paing trade unionists. Don't try to imply that a popular campaign among MPs would win it because it wouldn't.

The Alan Johnson campaign would be a members association under the Electoral Commission rules. Members associations don't have to declare donations under £5,000 and they don't appear on the Electoral Commission's website. Also, it's up to the proxy donor to declare that they were given the money, not to the campaign that receives it.

David Boothroyd, London, UK

Ministers and MPs are paid a very decent wage. I do not see why they need "donations" to fund their campaigns.

It would have cost Johnson nothing to email all his colleagues his plans. As a former postman, Johnson will also know that it would have cost him only £100 in stamps to send a letter to all his fellow Labour MPs. Johnson could also give interviews to the media for free, he could also hold a press conference for free.

So why do they take all these "donations"? I think the answer is obvious....

Make them pay for their campaigns out of their own pockets!

David Rochester, Liverpool, UK

A 50 yr old student ?

Andy, France,

Breathtaking....no not the money, it's the stupidity of our rulers and masters. Think about it, would you let these people run your whelk stall??
These are same people who won't allow the public (their employers) a vote on the EU consitution. What a stae we are in.....

Victor M., Chelmsford, Essex.,