Hain's tunnel vision
Peter Hain spent a fair part of his early adult life protesting outside South Africa House in London's Trafalgar Square.
Last night the home of the South African High Commission hosted the launch of his of Nelson Mandela.
For Peter Hain it was a chance to reminisce on his anti-apartheid campaigning, which forced his family to leave South Africa in 1966. "We didn't want to come," he said. "We had to come."
His father, Walter, was unable to work as an architect in South Africa because of his political activities - activities that had seen both Walter and his wife Adelaine briefly imprisoned. Both are now in their 80s but made it from their home in South Wales to the book launch.
The former Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland was asked about the implications of what happened in South Africa for conflicts elsewhere. He suggested negotiation was the key to conflict resolution. "It will have to happen in Afghanistan; it will have to happen in the Middle East."
The launch also saw a gathering of some of Peter Hain's old comrades from the Stop the Tour campaign against sporting links with South Africa in 1969-70.
Hain recalled their discovery of a disused Bakerloo line underground tunnel, with an air vent near Lord's cricket ground from which thousands of protesters had planned to emerge had the tour gone ahead.
Hello. I'm David Cornock and I'm parliamentary correspondent for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales. This is the blog for the latest news and gossip from the Westminster village - with a Welsh accent.
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