John Key is a weak leader. Currently popular (he’s such a “nice guy” you know) – but weak. Like a school teacher who has lost the respect of their pupils, Key has lost control over his MPs. And like naughty kids, Key’s MPs are starting to run wild.
The problem is a lack of accountability. Before the election we were promised many things (tax cuts anyone?). Among the promises, higher standards of accountability for government, a tough “one strike and you’re out” rule for ministers. It is to laugh. Post election there don’t seem to be standards at all, especially compared to Helen Clark’s tight ship. National Minister Bill English has been receiving an accommodation allowance to which he isn’t entitled. John Key is comfortable with this (in fact he scolded critics for “persecuting” Bill and helped him out with his coverup lies). National Minister Paula Bennett illegally leaked private information to the press. John Key is comfortable with this. Minister Rodney Hide has broken half a dozen Cabinet Manual regulations by selling access to his Ministerial position to fundraise for ACT. John Key is comfortable with this. National Minister Richard Worth was using Ministerial position to seek personal gain. John Key was comfortable with that. And so on, and so on…
It’s not that John’s bark is worse than his bite, he doesn’t even bother to bark. Government MPs have clearly got the message. Anything goes. They won’t be held to account. They can even openly defy Key and nothing will happen. So when Key tells them …
PM to ministers: Pay for spouses’ trips yourself
Globe-trotting ministers should leave their spouses behind or pay for the trip themselves as part of efforts to trim the Government’s travel bill, Prime Minister John Key said yesterday.
… his ministers just ignore him …
Ministers Rodney Hide, John Carter and Peter Dunne have all circumvented his edict by keeping their partner’s travel off the ministerial tab, and billing them to their separate parliamentary perk instead
… forcing an embarrassing back down from Key. So the rot is well and truly set in. At no level is Key holding his Ministers and MPs to account. They are now openly defying his will. John Key is a weak leader.
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