Simon Bridges has made the call and ruled out working with NZ FIrst after the election. From Henry Cooke at Stuff:
National leader Simon Bridges has ruled out working with NZ First after this year’s election, telling voters he can’t trust the party.
Bridges’ move, announced at a caucus retreat in Havelock North, sets the stage for a no-holds barred election campaign between the three parties that make up the Government and National.
It echoes a move made by then-oppositon leader John Key ahead of the 2008 election, when he too ruled out working with NZ First.
And the reasons?
“I don’t believe we can work with NZ First and have a constructive trusting relationship.”
Bridges pointed to the decision of NZ First leader Winston Peters to sue several National Party ministers during coalition negotiations as a factor in the bad blood between the parties.
“I don’t trust NZ First and I don’t believe New Zealanders can either.”
There are some interesting parallels in what happened in 2008 and what is happening now.
Back then there was a SFO investigation into a $100,000 dollar donation by Owen Glenn to NZ First that Peters disputed.
From a NBR article at the time:
National Party leader John Key has ruled out working with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters post-election altogether and says opponents are wrong to suggest that would change if he was struggling to form a government.
Mr Peters’ party is being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office over questions how donated money was spent and Parliament’s privileges committee is looking at whether rules were broken regarding an undeclared $100,000 donation from billionaire Owen Glenn.
…
Mr Key told NZPA that the bar he set for who he would work with was higher than if they were cleared by investigations or not.
“I have to have confidence in them and confidence in their word. The sheer weight of allegations and the actions of Mr Peters in the last few months means that I have lost that confidence in him.”
Mr Key ruled out having Mr Peters as a minister, forming a coalition with his party or entering any kind of support arrangement with NZ First.
“The lot… we have categorically ruled him out altogether.”
Mr Key said he did not think Mr Peters would be able to clear up all the allegations swirling around.
“I think it’s highly unlikely he will be able to resolve to my satisfaction answers to all of those allegations and that still leaves you with his handling of the situation.”
Gee, $100,000 dollar donation, SFO investigation, allegation that the donation was declared.
Perhaps given the obvious sensitivity to such behaviour Simon Bridges should rule out working with Simon Bridges after the election.
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