24 September 2006 Media Statement
Full extent of National's Brethren lies becomes clear

The full extent of the National Party cover up of their involvement with the Exclusive Brethren is becoming clear today with revelations that all but three National MPs accepted support from the Church, Labour strategist Pete Hodgson said.

In today's Sunday Star-Times, National MP Katherine Rich revealed that all National MPs were offered support from the Brethren and all but Rich, Simon Power and Maurice Williamson accepted it.

Pete Hodgson said this revelation shows that National's lies about the Brethren went far beyond Don Brash's original claim to have never met with the Church.

"In the run up to the 2005 election, National claimed to have no involvement with the Exclusive Brethren," Pete Hodgson said. "Even when Don Brash accidentally revealed that he had met with the Brethren, he sought to downplay the significance of their involvement.

"Labour's allegations that Brethren members were involved in putting up placards, handing out leaflets and push polling have been refuted by Don Brash and his National Party colleagues for over a year, both in the media and in Parliament.

"Finally today, Katherine Rich has confirmed that National did accept support from the Brethren and that it did so on a major scale.

"Don Brash and his senior colleagues – including John Key and Gerry Brownlee – have lied about the Brethren on a scale we had not previously imagined.

"Coupled with Brash's admission that he has met with the Brethren since the election and his refusal to end his political partnership with the Church, the lies revealed today are a fatal blow to Brash's integrity.

"His leadership has had a corrosive effect on politics in New Zealand and he should resign."

ENDS

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