Peter Hain has never been lacking in ambition and, in an interview with Sky this morning, he made it clear that he would like to get his feet under the cabinet table again:
I didn't leave government under a cloud of mistaken ministerial decisions or a problem in what I had done. On the contrary, I think people would accept that I've had a successful 11 years in government. I want to make a difference. That's why I came into politics 40 years ago … and I will continue to make a difference in whatever role I can.
His prospects look good. Gordon Brown's political spokesman has just put out this statement and, although it's not quite a cabinet job offer, it's the sort of thing Brown would only say if he envisaged Hain doing some sort of frontline job in Labour politics:
We obviously welcome the fact that Peter Hain has been cleared in this matter. Peter has been a great servant of the Labour party and has much to offer in the future.
3pm Update: Andrew Porter at Three Line Whip thinks Hain could go back to his old job at the Wales Office, replacing Paul Murphy when the next reshuffle comes up. It's a bit of a non-job for someone with Hain's experience. But he could combine it with some sort of party campaigning role which would probably suit him very well.
