Peter Hain, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, has been arrested by angry police after dropping litter as he made his way to no. 10 Downing Street this morning. He is being held at a police station in Paddington Green.
Mr Hain was on his way to a meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown over an "unrelated and undisclosed matter", but was pounced upon by members of the Metropolitan Police Force when he threw a bus ticket to the ground on the steps of the PM's residence.
Hain has come under fire lately for 'forgetting to declare donations' made to him in support of his attempt to become Deputy leader of the Labour Party, and it's thought this may have been on his mind as he casually tossed his ticket on the ground.
Arresting officer Sergeant Albert Stasi said:
"These MPs fink they can get away wiv it, but we, Her Majesty's Police Force of Great Britain, are here to protect and serve, and to catch crinimals in the act. Innit."
A current pay dispute between the government and the Police exists, and may have had some bearing on this morning's incident. Ministers have settled their own pay claims themselves, by awarding each other just whatever kind of pay rise they desire, regardless of whether or not it is in line with inflation - which it isn't, or whether or not they deserve it - which they don't.
Mr Hain made no comment as he was led away, but, in a statement to his solicitor later, said he was innocent of any wrongdoing, and claimed that, at worst, he was a bit absent-minded.
