She had just been subject to a series of soundbite questions covering all sorts of topics. The initial question “[d]oes she stand by all her Government’s statements and policies?” meant that questions could be wide ranging and that her chance to prepare properly were lessened but she answered concisely and clearly.
As she sat down she made what was clearly meant to be a private comment to Grant Robertson describing Seymour in accurate terms. Funnily enough I thought about the same phrase as I watched Seymour’s performance.
A journalist picked up on what was said, texted Seymour who then raised a point of order and the rest is history.
The comment must have been really quiet. Like most of Twitter I replayed the video and did not hear anything. But Ardern did acknowledge that she used this phrase.
Ardern’s comment was entered into Hansard. She apologised privately and publicly to Seymour. They then both signed a printout of Hansard containing her description of him. The printout has been framed and put on sale on Trademe. Currently the best bid is $50,100. Proceeds are to go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
This episode has attracted some international attention although more in the line of bemusement rather than condemnation.
Locally the normal talking heads have dined out on the topic. As yet Bryce Edwards has not announced that this incident may be the cause of Labour losing the next election but such a column cannot be far away.
On twitter there has been some outrage expressed by some whose usernames include the words “Cindy” and “Stalin”. But lots of support has also been expressed. It appears that Ardern’s description of Seymour is one that many will agree with.
The public reconciliation was very nice. It is good for people to set aside their differences and do something positive in a year that many of us have struggled with.
So this is something incredibly rare for the Standard to say about Seymour. His signing the framed Hansard passage with Ardern and offering this for auction for a very good cause was very well done. I am not sure but this may be the first time Seymour has ever been praised on this blog.
Merry Christmas everyone. Look after yourselves and your whanau. It has been a tough couple of years and we all need to get a break and look after each other.
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