National’s very bad day in the house
National had a spectacularly bad day today in Parliament.
politicans
paula bennett
Eye of the storm
Simon Bridges thinks that he is past trouble caused by the Jami-Lee Ross incident. But the way things are developing he may be in the middle of things.
Two Chinese are more valuable than two Indians
The repercussions of Jami-Lee Ross’s expulsion continue to be felt. Disclosures about complaints regarding Ross’s behaviour are difficult to reconcile with what Bridges and Bennett have said recently. And National’s relationship with ethnic groups has taken a battering.
Mutually assured destruction
Paula Bennett has broken the understanding that MPs do not refer to each other’s private lives. And Jami-Lee Ross has alleged that a $100,000 donation was split so that it did not have to be declared and it has been confirmed that National then nominated the donor for a Queen’s Birthday Honour.
Jami-Lee Ross Doubles Down; Resigns From Parliament
Jami-Lee Ross is to resign from Parliament amid further claims about unlawful activity from Tory leader Simon Bridges. Ross says he will stand in the Botany by-election. Ross also says he will lay a complaint against Bridges with the Police.
National’s leak inquiry blows up
Newshub has been leaked a copy of an email from Paula Bennett sent to National Party staffers advising that the inquiry into who leaked Simon Bridges’s travel expense information now includes them.
Winston sues
Winston Peters has commenced legal proceedings against Anne Tolley and Paula Bennett because of the leaking during last year’s election campaign of private information about a superannuation overpayment he received.
Doofus of the week – June 3, 2018
Finalists this week are David Farrar for recklessly misrepresenting Labour’s view on the three strikes repeal proposal, Judith Collins for thinking a two year old photo used on the Standard was a current photo and evidence of the police being politicised and Paula Bennett for at the same time not knowing and knowing but being unable to do anything about the terrorising of state house tenants. And the winner is …
National’s strategy on the Housing Corp P fiasco
National is all over the place in its response to Peter Gluckman’s Housing Corp methamphetamine report with three different justifications being provided by three different senior MPs.
Gluckman: Methamphetamine policy was a crock
The Prime Minister’s chief science adviser Peter Gluckman has described the previous Government’s policy on methamphetamine in Housing Corp houses as hysterical and concluded that there has never been a documented case of someone getting sick from third-hand exposure to methamphetamine.
Doofus of the week – May 27, 2018
Lots of competition this week with Katie Hopkins preferring to be called a racist to being described as being on drugs, Judith Collins for fronting the most naff scandals in the last decade, and Simon Bridges for going on tour to strange places. But the real contest was between Paula Bennett and Gerry Brownlee …
National loses the plot in Parliament
National’s show down with Trevor Mallard today did not go as well as they hoped.
Paula’s petulant parliamentary outburst
Paula Bennett stormed out of Parliament yesterday after Trevor Mallard correctly applied the standing orders and ruled out a question containing an unparliamentary term. And National has responded by questioning if Jacinda Ardern was actually described as a “silly little girl” but has refused to question its MPs.
Doofus of the week May 12, 2018
There was intense competition this week. Paula Bennett with her attack on Jacinda’s Spotify playlist almost won but Northcote candidate Dan Bidois succeeded for managing to talk out of both sides of his mouth at the same time and only confusing his tongue.
National announces new line up
National’s new line up has been announced. And there are some heavy hints to a few MPs that their careers may be ending soon.
National’s new leader is …
The new leader of the National Party has been announced. It is Simon Bridges with Paula Bennett remaining as deputy.
Who will the new leader of the National Party be?
Today we will find out if National is taking a step backwards. Or two steps backwards.
National is united
National is united. There are no murmurings about leadership and Bill English’s and Paula Bennett’s positions are secure.
The 2017 General Election electorate expense returns
Last year’s electorate expense returns have now been made public.
Poor Paula’s position’s in peril
Speculation is rife that Paula Bennett’s reign as Deputy Leader of the National Party may be under threat.
Bye Bill?
Barry Soper is claiming that the numbers are being done on sorting out a replacement for Bill English and Paula Bennett may be gone as deputy leader as early as next week.
What will 2018 bring for National?
What are National’s prospects this year? Will Bill English survive as leader? Will there be resignations and a clean out of the front bench? Stay tuned …
Invisibill
The media have noticed that Bill English has recently been missing in action. And pretenders to his throne are starting to play up.
Labour to seek consensus over child poverty
Jacinda Ardern intends to reach out to National to try and furnish a bi partisan approach to dealing with child poverty. It is a good idea, but I don’t like her chances.
The Herald doesn’t want Winston to go with Labour
The Herald has offered a number of opinions this weekend saying that Labour forming a coalition with New Zealand First would be a very bad thing.
English, Joyce, Bennett et al desperate to keep their power?
This might look like smart politics for National to draw the Greens in with National but a more primary motivation might be that English/Joyce and co. are desperate to form a coalition with anyone, otherwise as individuals, they’ll certainly lose their power within the party in the inevitable shakeup.
The decline and fall in National’s polling under English
National’s current polling under Bill English is showing the same dramatic slide that it did in 2002, the last time he was leader.
After nine long years National discovers there is child poverty in New Zealand
Bill English has finally committed the Government to doing something about Child poverty. But why has he and National taken so long?
National plays the lauranorda card
National is panicking and Paula Bennett has gone full dog whistle in claiming that gang members should have less rights than others.
Tegg Talk – Second Climate Change Report Withheld By Government
Denis Tegg reports that the Government is hiding a second critical report on climate change until after the election.
Real video from National’s campaign launch
The Standard has received real video from National’s campaign launch
National’s Record On The Environment – Abysmal
In the style of how John Key’s contribution to the truth was discussed, lets take a wee look at National’s record on the environment
Bennett faces petition and protest over historical allegations
No doubt those purity pledge campaigners who rained stones on Metiria Turei will be just as keen to get to the bottom of all this, and no doubt Paula Bennett will be keen to take personal responsibility and clear her name.
Paula Bennett says Jacinda lacks “the kind of brain” to lead
Back in May the Nats chose Nikki Kaye as their vehicle to attack Jacinda Ardern. It didn’t work so well. This time round they’ve lead with Paula Bennett. According to Bennett, Ardern lacks the right kind of brain. Keep talking Paula…
Paula Bennett gets owned by Phil Twyford in question time
This afternoon in Parliament during question time Paula Bennett showed clearly that this Government has no idea what to do about the housing crisis.