Winston tops worst-behaved MP list

New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters, has soared to the top of the 2002 list of Parliament’s worst-behaved Members, as compiled annually by United Future leader, Peter Dunne.

Mr Peters was forced to withdraw and apologise in the House 11 times this year and was expelled from the chamber once to take the title with ease.

National leader Bill English charged from seventh-equal last year to equal-second this year with 7 withdrawals, matched by his National colleague Nick Smith who was expelled twice and forced to apologise thrice.

The gentrification of Education Minister Trevor Mallard continued with his drop from third-equal last year to fourth in 2002 with two expulsions and two apologies. It’s a gold star performance from Mr Mallard as he previously topped the 1999 and 2000 lists.

Fifth-equal place was shared among National heavyweight Gerry Brownlee, (5 apologies), Youth Affairs Minister John Tamihere (5 apologies) and NZ First MP Ron Mark (2 expulsions and 1 apology).

Mr Dunne commented “The real story is that the number of incidents of bad behaviour is continuing to fall - as it has done every year since this list has been published. This year's table is light because it excludes MPs who left at the election.”

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