In the House today Megan Woods embarrassed John Key with some very simple yet direct questions about Jason Ede. Key’s attempts to joke away the issue was met with silence from his side of the house. Dirty Politics is clearly having an effect.
Why do I want to know about Bronagh’s private 30th wedding anniversary gift to John Key? The PM is in trouble and trying to get fluff out to distract from his recent repeated lying, make people think more nicely of him. Presumably his superstitiousness played well in focus groups.
Key says he is not concerned about his calls with Slater being made public.
The second annual Child Poverty Monitor was released today. bsprout on Local Bodies on poverty and inequalities in Invercargill, “provides a good snapshot of New Zealand society”.
The Countering Terrorist Fighters Legislation Bill is set to return to Parliament today with some changes likely to be recommended by the select committee. And John Key is sounding conciliatory by promising to wind some powers back while at the same time promising an increase in powers next year even though a review of the Intelligence agencies has not been completed.
bsprout on the Local Bodies blog departs from his more usual style and makes some parallels with popular culture. One of John Key’s many hats?
The text of a speech delivered by Andrew Little this morning
The next time Key repeats the lie that there was “too much noise”, I suggest that the interviewer play the audio of the event to the audience, and let them hear for themselves.
The past week has been a terrific one for Andrew Little and a very bad one for John Key, thanks to Cameron Slater. Key failing to cut contact with Slater is bizarre. It makes you wonder what Slater has on Key.
What does it take for Armstrong to call for Key’s resignation, the way he called for Cunliffe’s?
The honour system is broken, exposing the flaws of our political model.
Kevin Hague says, the government’s plan to replace state housing with “social housing” will make the affordable housing crisis worse & is “economically reckless”. The Labour Party have circulated a petition to save state houses from being sold by the NZ government.
There are two approaches to being a star of dirty politics and not wanting to answer questions about it. Both were displayed on Campbell Live last night by Jason Ede and Cameron Slater. And Andrea Vance has details on taxpayers paying for Slaters legal bills.
Contrary to Key’s claim he was directly asked about the Inspector General’s (Gwyn) inquiry. Contrary to Key’s claim the questions were asked in perfect silence. Updated with video
rOb somewhat scooped me, but here’s my twitter round-up of the reaction to the PM’s office releasing the texts last night.
Apologise? What for? I’m not sorry for anything. I have done nothing wrong. It’s Phil Goff who should be apologising. It’s Phil Goff who should resign.
It is now clear that Key lies repeatedly and reflexively. It is all catching up with him. From the confusion of emails and texts that emerged last night it also looks like the Collins / Slater faction is back, and giving back double.
The Greens have released information that shows National having 77% of their donations in the last 3 years ($3.375 million) funnelled to them in non-public quite large donations. What are they providing for that? Well amongst other things it pays for sleazeballs like Jason Ede. But what legislation?
Andrew Little invokes the phrase that is going to forever haunt our lying, denying and obfuscating PM.
Updated: Question time video of Little added, followed by John Key “lying, denying and obfuscating”.
Updated: General video of Little added – better in the house than expected. PM’s staff writing blogs for Cameron Slater
😈
There’s a lot of smash flying around concerning the SIS, the PM’s office, OIA requests, Judith Collin’s and what not. So here’s a simple, stripped back, breakdown
A list of things that are apparently now Honourable, even if you didn’t undermine your SFO boss.
John Key thinks that the finding by Cheryl Gwyn that his office helped Cameron Slater with his OIA request is “contested”. Who should we believe? Updated: Key will be asked this question this afternoon in Parliament.
Herald: The Key administration has plumbed new depths of arrogance and contempt for the notion of politicians being accountable for their actions, writes John Armstrong. Also: Andrea Vance
Trying to dodge the fallout from the Gwyn report Key simply lies and refuses to accept the facts. He can’t get away with it. Can he?
Q&A with our fearless leader on his many reports.
Calls for Key to resign, so far from Goff, Norman, and Plunket.
The Gwyn report finds that the SIS failed to maintain political neutrality.
What did Key know and when did he know it?
John Key has apologised to Cameron Slater for releasing an email which details a campaign against a senior Public Servant.
What did Key know and when did he know it?
Rob Salmond has a look at the new Labour lineup. “…a consistent display of clarity and unity and being on New Zealanders’ side is what is needed from Labour right now”. Gives it an 8 out of 10
Andrew Little has announced Labour’s new lineup.
John Key’s election as chair of the International Democratic Union is significant. Key succeeds John Howard who has led the IDU for the past 12 years. Key’s acceptance signals that like four-time winner Howard, Key plans a long career as Prime Minister of New Zealand. This news should be a wake-up call for the Labour Party’s review of its election organisation and party structure.
Apparently the New Zealand Wars were just another Rugby analogy to John Key.
All the usual suspects are lining up to give advice to new Labor leader Andrew Little. Why shouldn’t we have a go?
In which I ponder my 2c on the leadership race, and the path ahead for Labour and the unions…
