Thursday, November 04, 2004
Challenge to Jordan and Russell Brown
Place your hand on your hearts and tell me that John Tamihere's honourable 'resignation' was not under orders.
Rodney Hide: In light of the Prime Minister’s response, what has changed since yesterday, when she promised this House due process for Mr Tamihere, and today, when she accepted his resignation? [Interruption]Bullshit, pure and simple. The spin is as audacious as it is insulting - and rightly pointed out by Hide and Brash yesterday:
Mr SPEAKER: I am not going to warn people about interjecting or making noises while questions are being asked. Questions are entitled to be heard in silence.
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK: As I told the House yesterday there is a process in train—and it still is in train—to have a report on a range of allegations, many of them mounted by the member, concerning Mr Tamihere. That process is going on. Mr Tamihere meantime has decided he will resign.
ACT leader Rodney Hide and National leader Don Brash accused Miss Clark of doing a deal to ensure Mr Tamihere's support for the controversial foreshore and seabed legislation.Apart from Helen and Heather's spin becoming rather insulting - the good news is that political cynicism and desperation will probably cause more issues for Labour than it does save face. Can anyone imagine JT sitting quietly while he is on probation?
"We know her people were talking to John Tamihere, and here's the deal. Resign, sit in the back seat quietly like a good Maori Labour MP, vote for the seabed and foreshore bill, and you might be back," Mr Hide said.
Dr Brash said Labour was doing deals on an "extraordinary scale". She's playing for time. She desperately needed, and still needs, Mr Tamihere's loyalty."
Meanwhile - hands on hearts boys - tell me it was his decision to resign.
