Agreeing with Russel

Pete George blogs:

Some party leaders were asked their views on waka jumping. National:

“I think there is potentially the need for legislation to support that view,” says Mr .

And National's rank-and-file are calling for a change too, clearly worried Mr Gilmore was going to do a Horan, and stick around on $144,000 a year.

Labour:

And the Opposition agrees the likes of Mr Gilmore and Mr Horan should not be able to stay.

“It wouldn't have helped good , and actually overall it brings the Parliament into disrepute as well,” say Labour leader David Shearer.

NZ First:

“People are voting for the party, not for someone thinks they can behave any way they like,” says New Zealand First leader .

There was one party leader who bucked the majority in support of protection against leaders abusing their power:

But the Greens don't agree.

“Party leaders like me would basically get to say to individual MPs, ‘If you don't do what I like then I'll expel you from caucus and you'll be kicked out of Parliament,'” says Greens co-leader Russel Norman. 

On this issue, I agree with Russel Norman. As frustrating as it is, when a List MP leaves their party and goes rogue, the solution is better candidate selection procedures – not turning List MPs into party creatures even more than they are. Once parties gain the ability to sack MPs from Parliament mid-term, there will be a chilling effect.

 

Comments (35)

Login to comment or vote

Add a Comment