Which one’s true, Bill?
According to the Speaker, Bill English MP’s “primary place of residence” is in Dipton because Bill has told him it is. But according […]
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English lives where Lockwood says
Allowances for MPs accommodation are made according to the Speaker’s determinations. An MP’s “primary place of residence” is where the Speaker says it […]
Uncowed
Shh. Hear that sound? It’s National’s mud throwing machine gearing up again. Inevitably, they’ve released Labour’s ministers’ spending. No evidence of any rort but […]
The house built on sand
English, now known by the moniker Double Dipton, has decided to give back half the amount to has rorted so far from the taxpayer. Rather […]
One law for all?
Are you? a disgraced former minister who resigned from Parliament in shame? a National MP who rents from a National minister (Judith Collins […]
Worth the Bill
What would you call it when you collect $900 a week by false pretenses? What would you call it when you tell the Electoral […]
3News on National Ministers double-dipping
3News covers the story of National Ministers double-dipping at the taxpayers’ expense. UPDATE: ‘BLiP’ has bestowed a new title on Bill English: “Sir […]
Accountability then and now…
Then: Labour Minister David Parker accused of financial wrongdoing (filing incorrect returns). He resigns Ministerial portfolios and as Attorney General while the Companies […]
More snouts in the trough
More Nats have been exposed rorting the out of town allowance for ministers. Bludger Bill is claiming the allowance for living in his […]
One of these things is not like the other VI
One of these things is not like the other One of these things is not quite the same. Can you guess which one […]
Use of weapons
I’ve been thinking about the different ways ministers from the Left and the Right approach governing. I think it goes back to where […]
Straight answers? Short supply.
Here’s Bennett’s answer to Chauvel’s question in the House yesterday: Charles Chauvel: Was the Minister advised that the individuals concerned had given implied […]
This is the secret agenda
Remember the mantra about John Key being a centrist? Doesn’t get much play nowadays does it? And it shouldn’t. Not with the government […]
Talking shite
Right wing rhetoric can be absurdly stupid at times. IrishBill recently reminded us how crazy things were getting near the last election: One […]
It’s Brash
The government has just confirmed Don Brash will head the “productivity” group. Expect a lot of talk about “labour market flexibility” and the […]
Credit where credit’s due
You may have noticed that we’ve taken to offering Labour a little unsolicited comms advice of late. Irish recently told them to get some […]
Toast
What a horrifying sight today’s Q+A interview with Minister of Food Safety Kate Wilkinson made. It was a shameful performance from a media point […]
Symbol or substance?
It seems to me that National has fundamentally misunderstood what the foreshore and seabed debate is about. Key’s statements yesterday suggest it is […]
A “Charter for Blackmail and rent-seeking by Maori interests”
Further to my post yesterday, a reader sent in this quote from 2004: Mr English’s view was not [National’s] official line. As expressed […]
Cowardice, bigotry and saying whatever it takes
I’ll be glad to see the back of the Foreshore & Seabed Act. For many on the Left, including myself, its been a […]
Tories fearing Goff
The last few Question Times, the Tories have been whipping out old Goff quotes. Patsies are set to bring them out. Key goes off […]
Bugger the polls
With every new cock-up or dereliction of duty from this Key government, righties point to the Roy Morgan polls and say ‘seems the […]
Nats ignored Treasury’s warnings on cancelling Cullen Fund payments
In the newly released Budget papers Treasury acknowledges that cancelling the Cullen Fund contributions would only reduce debt by 5% (more than offset […]
Tax cuts, one-off payment, or something better?
Budget papers just released reveal that Treasury recommended a package of measures to reduce debt including an 8-year suspension of the Cullen fund […]
A Rankin headache
There must be an automatic recoil on the Government benches when Christine Rankin’s name is mentioned. Even Bill Ralston has noticed the difficulty […]
National’s growing silence explained
Judy Callingham (partner of Brian Edwards) has a new post, one of a series of media tips they write on. The latest tip […]
Rhetoric & Reality 4: Tertiary Education
National sure does talk a good game before an election. This time we’re looking at their rhetoric on education, especially tertiary education: Key: […]
Lessons unlearnt
Matt McCarten, who has managed more than a few election campaigns, does a good post facto analysis of where National went wrong in […]
Roger Douglas on Key and English
Commenting on Key’s policy to force the Guardians of the Super Fund to invest 40% of funds in New Zealand, ACT’s Roger Douglas […]
National still hate women
Despite women being 51% of the population, and it being women who won National the last election, they are still showing their contempt […]
Key’s female trouble
Key is obviously lying about having an unavoidable commitment in Taupo keeping him from Melissa Lee’s election night do. He would tell us […]
F*ck tha police…
…that seems to be National’s plan as it moves to cut 10% of the police vehicle fleet (why are so many of National’s […]
Hooton’s bizarro world strikes again
I think it’s fair to say that David Shearer’s thumping victory in Mt Albert has been widely viewed as securing Phil Goff’s leadership […]
A bribe is not a plan
As recently posted here, there is a vast gulf between National’s rhetoric and the reality on tax cuts. Before the election National sold […]
A disgrace
I’m stunned by National. Their leader didn’t support his Mt Albert candidate by turning up tonight and now nobody will talk to the […]
Back to basics
Radio NZ is playing John Key saying that, following the letter from the woman in the sexual harassment saga, he has “washed his […]