Peters endorses Bishop

The Herald reports:

Some of the only warm words in Peters’ speech were reserved for the local MP, National’s Chris Bishop, who is facing a tight race against Labour’s Ginny Andersen. …

That would be a shame, according to Peters, who offered Bishop a rare and “very unique” endorsement. Peters rarely endorses candidates from a party outside his own; he did it in 2014, endorsing Labour’s Kelvin Davis in the Te Tai Tokerau electorate against Hone Harawira. 

Peters told the crowd that NZ First’s candidate in the seat, Alastair Boyce – “a Hutt kid done good” – and owner of Wellington’s famous Backbencher pub, had recently endorsed Bishop, saying Bishop should receive the candidate vote from NZ First supporters.

“Mr Bishop needs that endorsement; without it he might be out of Parliament,” Peters said. 

“We can all acknowledge Chris Bishop, it is quite rare for us to say this, is a cut above the regular MP.” 

Peters said this was an endorsement of Bishop, not National.

This is indeed a very rare thing. I think it shows the high esteem Chris Bishop is held by so many as both a parliamentarian and a Minister. If he doesn’t make it back, it will be Parliament’s loss.