INDEPENDENT NEWS

Clark's lack of faith in Field laid bare

Published: Tue 29 Aug 2006 03:25 PM
Don Brash MP National Party Leader
Clark's lack of faith in Field laid bare
Helen Clark's lack of faith in Taito Philip Field's fitness to remain as an MP was laid bare in Parliament today, says National Leader Don Brash.
"Helen Clark refused to answer my question about whether she thought Mr Field was fit to remain an MP," says Dr Brash.
"Instead, Speaker Margaret Wilson intervened and said Helen Clark had no ministerial responsibility for that question.
"But the lack of an answer from the Prime Minister is extremely telling. She has a lame duck MP sitting in her Caucus.
"Her strategy of orchestrating a cover-up via the toothless Ingram inquiry, and then toughing it out, has been an abject failure.
"Last weekend, two media outlets showed up the Ingram inquiry's lack of effectiveness with their new evidence against Mr Field.
"Helen Clark owes the public - and Parliament - a proper explanation of her MP's actions. An independent inquiry with full powers to call witnesses and obtain documents is required.
"Helen Clark claimed the Ingram inquiry was a comprehensive report on whether there was a ministerial conflict of interest, but the questions that require answers relate to Mr Field's behaviour as an MP.
"She cannot continue to obfuscate over the Field affair forever.
"This issue will not go away until the facts come out."
ENDS

Next in New Zealand politics

Maori Authority Warns Government On Fast Track Legislation
By: National Maori Authority
Comprehensive Partnership The Goal For NZ And The Philippines
By: New Zealand Government
Canterbury Spotted Skink In Serious Trouble
By: Department of Conservation
Oranga Tamariki Cuts Commit Tamariki To State Abuse
By: Te Pati Maori
Inflation Data Shows Need For A Plan On Climate And Population
By: New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Annual Inflation At 4.0 Percent
By: Statistics New Zealand
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media