Peter Hain: You Ask The Questions

Should there be a contest for the Labour leadership? And what do you think of Michael Meacher's campaign? SAM ALLINSON, Bristol

Gordon would welcome a contest. But he's such a towering figure in the Government and has such a clear vision of what he wants to do in office that, even though Michael's a friend, I can't see anyone getting the 44 MPs needed to stand.

You recently attacked the US government whose war you backed as the "most right wing in living memory". Doesn't such shameless opportunism underline why the public is so disgusted by politicians? T WOOD, Cwmdare, South Wales

I did back the war and I don't intend to rewrite history. I did so because of the evidence I was shown that Saddam had WMD - that evidence turned out to be wholly false. The current US administration is right wing - that's a statement of fact. Our sister party is the Democrats. As a government, we work with whoever is in power.

From being an apartheid hero you have sold your soul for power and have become a war criminal alongside the arch criminal Blair. Was it worth it? SANJEEV CHOWDHURY

It's lazy thinking to think that it is selling out to be in government. We need people with left-of-centre values in government to be there to listen and respond to those protesting outside - otherwise nothing changes.

I feel hugely disappointed with your support of the Iraq war. You claim that with the intelligence you had at the time you would do the same thing again and yet Robin Cook had the same information and resigned. DOMINIC FORREST, by email

I worked under Robin at the Foreign Office as Middle East minister and the intelligence we were both shown was terrifying: and had it been right we would never have been forgiven if we hadn't acted. But I accept that subsequently intelligence was wholly wrong.

The Government falsely claimed that Saddam Hussein had been buying uranium from Niger. No acknowledgement of the error has yet been made in Britain. Will you admit that your government misled? JOHN HATT, Cumbria

I didn't attempt to mislead anyone.

How do you sleep at night knowing that your actions helped lead to civil war, death, maiming and ethnic cleansing in Iraq? ROBBIE MACDONALD, Newcastle

I sleep knowing the most brutal tyrant since Hitler is no longer in a position to terrorise his people - a man responsible for the death of a million Muslims.

What is your account of an alleged secret channel of communication you tried to establish, or discussed establishing, with Saddam Hussein's regime while you were a minister at the Foreign Office? MANI CHOWDHRY, Oxford

We tried all possible options to avoid conflict when Saddam Hussein refused to comply with UN resolutions. But it was clear that he simply was not willing to act in good faith.

How do you feel having served in a government that unconditionally supports an administration responsible for Guantanamo Bay, and that has collaborated in the kidnapping (and consequent torture) of citizens from Europe's streets? STEVEN MARSH, by email

I was the first government minister to call for Guantanamo Bay to be closed and I am disappointed that it hasn't been. There can be no justification for imprisonment outside of legal jurisdictions.

You backed regime change in Iraq. What about in Zimbabwe? MARK BURTON, Reading

I did not support regime change in Iraq. I backed the action because of the evidence of WMD that in the end proved to be false. I've been the most vociferous critic of Mugabe in Parliament. He is destroying Zimbabwe and the sooner he goes the better for Africa and most importantly his own people but we need an African solution not one imposed by us.

In 1976 while on trial in South Africa did you tell the court that you were "a communist"? JAMES DE SIUN, Woolloomooloo, Australia

I've never said that. We were forced to leave South Africa when I was 16 for the stand my family took against apartheid. I was prosecuted twice in the UK - once for the campaign I led to stop the 1970 cricket tour (because we were hosting South Africa's all-white team) and later on a bank robbery charge allegedly involving the South African security services.

You were falsely accused of being a bank robber by apartheid's agents. What was the trial like? Has it affected your attitude towards the criminal justice system? CONAN DARMODY, Bow, London

I am always very conscious of just how easily cases of mistaken identity can occur. It's why I am so passionately opposed to the death penalty. Miscarriages of justice can and do still happen.

Is the Peter Hain of 1969 and 1970 still with us and, if so, where is he living? Mike Barton

The Peter Hain of then would probably be amazed that he'd ended up in the Cabinet. I'm proud of my anti-apartheid work. The principles and passions that brought me into politics are still with me and I do my best to use the position I now have to implement them.

Having campaigned against banning orders in apartheid South Africa, how do you justify supporting 90 days' detention without charge in the UK? FRED CROOK, Bletchley

People in South Africa just disappeared into jails on the orders of politicians. Here detentions have to be renewed every seven days by a judge, not the police or a politician, up to 28 days maximum.

The regime in charge of China stifles political dissent, the United States kidnaps people and jails them without trial, and Zimbabwe practises a form of apartheid. Do you object if I disrupt the London Olympics in protest? BEN BEALE, Ipswich

I disrupted apartheid tours because the teams were selected on a racist basis. This made the old South Africa a unique target for sports protests.

You championed the Mugabe regime in the 1980s. Are you a bad judge of character? CHRIS QUIGLEY, London

Mugabe has let down all those who backed him in the struggle against white racist minority rule, not least his own people.

Why do all these wonderful white liberals now live overseas if the new South Africa is so bloody marvellous? KEVAN HYETT, Johannesburg

My family were forced into exile when I was 16. I've spent my whole adult life in Britain. I'm just thankful that the struggle against apartheid was in the end successful so others do not experience the same treatment.

Having terminated your CND membership, does this mean that you have been on the wrong side of the argument for most of your life or that you are simply putting your climb up the slippery slope before political principles? EDWARD JONES, Cardiff

As Foreign Office minister I helped secure a UN commitment to the global elimination of all nuclear weapons which our government supports. But unilaterally giving up our deterrent today wouldn't reduce one single weapon anywhere else in the world.

You have criticised those in the City receiving big bonuses, saying they should give a lot of their money to charity. Goldman Sachs partners last year gave $500m to charity. Had you any idea of how much was already being given before opening your mouth? And what proportion of your income do you give to charity? BRIGID HARDEMAN, Fulham

How much people personally give to charity is a private matter. City bonuses are spiralling and polls show the public back my call for greater corporate social responsibility and the sharing of that wealth.

Given your disgust at the obscene levels of City bonuses would you support a higher upper rate of income tax? DAVID BLACKMORE, Brighton

We do need a new corporate social responsibility and a fairer distribution of wealth - and I strongly believe we can achieve that without a return to high taxes or excessive regulation which would drive vital business and jobs away.

How easy do you feel it is for Labour MPs to have a mature public debate about tax? ANDREW BURRIDGE, Manchester

As I have found in the past, very difficult in the current media climate.

Would you like to see action taken against the banks ripping off their customers? KATE GARDINER, Kidderminster

I'd first like to see banks responding to the growing anger themselves. Some are making staggering profits off the back of unfair charges that bear no relation to the cost of, say, sending a letter, and now talk of ending free banking.

You years ago listed all the advantages of joining the euro. "The big plus" you said, "is the gain of financial stability". Do you still think so? And do you still believe that not joining "will leave us isolated"? G D MORRIS, Port Talbot

Our case for joining was always the economic tests which have not been met.

Isn't your move to abolish academic selection in Northern Ireland really just a means to put pressure on the parties? CONNOR BAMFORD, Northern Ireland

No. I believe that a young person's life chances should not be set depending on how well they do in a couple of hours of exams.

Do you think it's hypocritical to be lecturing parties in Northern Ireland on the "rule of law" when the Government is failing to investigate those suspected of corruption in the recent BAE-Saudi Arms scandal? PATRICK O'NEILL, Belfast

There was an investigation but the Attorney General ruled that there wasn't enough likelihood of a successful prosecution to proceed.

What steps should the Government take to break the stranglehold of sectarian-based parties in Northern Ireland? COLM NUGENT, London

Political parties are a matter for people in Northern Ireland. But policies such as my proposals for schools to share facilities instead of the strict separate religious schooling can break down segregation.

How do you maintain such a rich tan in Northern Ireland, the most cloudy and miserable place on Earth? CHARLIE MARSDEN, Glasgow

Northern Ireland is actually a beautiful place but I imagine my skin colour comes from my early years in the South African sun.

What is Ian Paisley really like? ANNA JONES, Dublin

Since he stopped calling for my resignation we've got on well. If, as I hope, the DUP finally enters a power-sharing government with Ian Paisley as First Minister and Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister then he will have taken a brave step for the future peace and prosperity of the people he loves and I will have tremendous respect for him.

Would you be in favour of abolishing honours and titles? ARCHIE MATHER, Bath

Rewarding public servants and those who have devoted a lifetime to charitable work is the good side of the system that should be preserved. But we need a 100 per cent elected House of Lords to end the link between patronage and a place in the legislature.

What is your first memory? L M HENRY, by email

Seeing the terrible treatment of black South Africans.

Have you ever taken any illegal drugs? STEVE KAPLINSKY, Coventry

No.

What riles you? EDWARD O'CONNOR, Brighton

Politically: injustice and inequality. Personally: my club Chelsea losing.