National challenges Labour to come clean

National Party whip John Carter is challenging his Labour counterpart to come clean about whether other Government MPs have broken the law like Harry Duynhoven.

"I have spoken to the whips from every other political party, all of them have confirmed they have no members that fall into the law-breaker category," says Mr Carter.

"Labour's senior whip, David Benson-Pope hasn't offered me the same assurances as all the other political parties.

"With mounting media speculation that there may be another MP who has been caught like Harry Duynhoven, it's time the Labour Government laid its cards on the table.

"The National Party is today challenging Labour to offer New Zealanders an assurance that all of its MPs have acted within the law.

"It would be an act of good faith and in the spirit of an open, transparent and honest Government," Mr Carter says.

"The National Party firmly believes the law should not be changed to protect one Labour MP.

"It's now clear the law is not archaic as first claimed and was amended just last year. It was backed by Mr Duynhoven and his Labour colleagues.

"It's also been proven that while a by-election would cost around $350,000, it costs far more than that for Parliament to sit in urgency," says Mr Carter. "If another MP is involved and Labour's keeping it under wraps until after they're given legal protection, that would amount to a gross breach of trust.

"The National Party is urging Labour to lay these concerns to rest," Mr Carter says.

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