National’s culture review shambles

Written By: - Date published: 8:17 am, April 10th, 2019 - 79 comments
Categories: accountability, Deep stuff, feminism, national, paula bennett, Politics, same old national, Simon Bridges - Tags: , ,

Remember how last October in the wake of the Jami-Lee Ross revelations Simon Bridges ordered a review of National’s culture just to make sure that things in the party were tickety boo for women in the party?

Jason Walls at the Herald had the details:

National leader Simon Bridges is ordering an internal review to ensure a culture in the party where women feel safe – and has spoken to his deputy Paula Bennett about outing Jami-Lee Ross’ extra-marital affairs.

Bridges also said the party was unlikely to consider using the waka-jumping law to remove Ross from Parliament as long as he is was unwell.

Speaking to media this morning, Bridges said he would talk to Parliamentary Service this week to “make sure women feel absolutely safe in the workplace and feel they can confidently come forward on all matters”.

Bridges said he wanted to make sure the same is happening within the party, with volunteers, candidates and staff.

He has ordered an review into this.

The move comes after Newsroom revealed at least four women had come forward and accused Ross of harassment.

“We are getting independent advice to make sure we have got the best systems and process so women do feel safe.”

Bridges did not think there is a cultural issue within the National Party – “but the reality is several women have been affected by what has happened”.

He said he wanted to make sure National can do the best for its future.

Sounds good doesn’t it.  And of course such a review would seek comment from female MPs at least one of who was directly affected by Ross’s behaviour.

But it appears this is not what has happened.  From Television New Zealand:

The National Party’s review of its culture is finished but MPs are in the dark over its findings and it appears they also weren’t consulted.

National Party leader Simon Bridges ordered the review six months ago in the wake of the Jami-Lee Ross scandal last year, to find out if women in the party feel safe.

Several women had complained anonymously about the behaviour of Mr Ross, a former National MP for Botany who now sits as independent MP in the seat.

Arriving at Parliament today, National’s women MPs 1 NEWS spoke to were clear they had not been contacted for the culture review.

They included the National MP at the heart of the Jami-Lee Ross affair, Sarah Dowie, who said: “No, look, and I can’t talk about that at the moment.”

Nor had the National MP Mr Bridges described as useless, Maureen Pugh, been contacted as part of the review. “No I haven’t. Obviously I don’t fit the profile… I’ve never been a victim,” Ms Pugh said.

Male National MPs 1 NEWS spoke to were also in the dark about the culture review.

In October, Mr Bridges said he wanted “to make sure women in National, both here in Parliament and the wider party, feel absolutely safe.”

Apparently the review was completed several weeks ago. But Mr Bridges hasn’t seen it. “I’ve asked for an update and I’m sure we’ll get that in due course,” he said today.

In the Herald this morning Party President Peter Goodfellow said that the delay was to see what the Parliamentary review came up with.  Maybe they hope to minimise the damage or ridicule caused when they release their own report. But Bridges not knowing about the conclusions? Doesn’t anyone in his party hierarchy ever talk to him?

And a review where the two female MPs most publicly affected by mistreatment are not interviewed.  How does that work?

I wonder if National’s parliamentary leadership is worried …

https://twitter.com/nealejones/status/1115550257364983816
https://twitter.com/nealejones/status/1115508563349139456

79 comments on “National’s culture review shambles ”

  1. greywarshark 1

    Et tu, Brute?

    Rodney MP Mark Mitchell said the caucus’ support for Bridges was “unwavering” and that won’t change.
    He said he had met with Ross three weeks ago to ensure he was getting the proper support he needed.
    “I didn’t offer him anything other than support and to get well and to make sure he was focused on his own health.”

    And as sincere as Bridges’ comment about concern for female MPs.

    • mickysavage 1.1

      Now that Ross’s health is better National will again be tempted to use the waka jumping law. Or not …

  2. Muttonbird 2

    Perhaps Peter Goodfellow does need to show Simon the report because he’s still struggling with what is considered good leadership in the case of the emotional junior staffer. Not only did he and his office lie but now they are trying to take down the person who has accused them of lying.

    Simon Bridges’ office must look like Ricky Gervais’ office.

    • Dukeofurl 2.1

      ‘Not seen the report’ is just political humbug to deflect reporters questions.

      Those that have ‘seen’ the report will have talked at length with him.

      In effect hes telling little white lies about the report till they are ‘ready’

    • Unicus 2.2

      And like Ricky Simon keep s smiling whatever the hour or weather

      Egg on the face another bucket of shit from JLR over the head – polls going south knives in the back keep on with the smile and -the whole world smiles ” at “you

      And hey look it’s catching on – the whole National Party is smiling – wer’re the smiley party – it’s just the way we are – there’s Paula with her sweaty knowing grin even Judith’s caught up in the whirl of it all brrrrrr

  3. ankerawshark 3

    LOL yes Muttonbird, good comparison to Ricky Gervais in the office. Simon matey and thinks he has something to offer

  4. The Fairy Godmother 4

    My prediction is that National are looking for a high profile candidate who won’t want the drama of standing in Botany without a high list placing. They are now waiting til 2020 to parachute this person into Botany. I’m pretty sure they are trying to get a celebrity in. Of course I could be wrong.

    • greywarshark 4.1

      Who could it be?
      Mike Hosking or one of his herd. But they have such a good and profitable time sitting on the dung heap and pronouncing for the empty-minded below waiting to be told what to think or being confirmed in their desire not to change any of their concepts about life. Why get smelly and sweaty down below as an MP for less.

      A gardener like Maggie Barry? It gives a sort of greenwash and a nice clean background that seems of a higher standard then from business. Everyone must love a gardener, one of Godzone.

      A wealthy farmer? Brings commonsense and business acumen to decision-making in the Party.

      Anyone with multi-millions? Obviously a superior person. But why should they serve in the National Party when they already have valuable interests or connections with it or perhaps own a small piece of it. They can influence or operate it from outside where they can make more money per minute than as an MP; not cost efficient, too high an opportunity cost to consider. Unless there was a knighthood in it, that looks good on your letterhead.

      Not easy choosing someone with the right savvy and credentials.

      • maggieinnz 4.1.1

        Maybe Ashley Church wants to have a go. I would ask him but he’s blocked me on Linkedin…can’t imagine why? All I did was asking him when he was going to pull up his big boy pants and stop whining about National losing the election.

      • silvertuatara 4.1.2

        Ritchie Macaw

    • mickysavage 4.2

      I have heard that Jami is planning to stand again for Auckland Council …

      • Paulie 4.2.1

        That really is the definition of optimism. Who in gods earth will vote for that mess?

      • Sacha 4.2.2

        Yay, he can pollute that organisation’s political culture as well. Dodgy donors will be rubbing their hands with glee.

      • The Fairy Godmother 4.2.3

        maybe if sharon Stewart decides to retire and then would the good people of Botany vote him back in.

    • Anne 4.3

      Of course I could be wrong.

      I doubt it Fairy Godmother. In fact it will be exactly what they plan to do. We can spend the next months having a sweep-stake on who it is likely to be. I’ll start the ball rolling with… drum roll…. Ritchie McCaw. Trouble is, he’s a Southlander (is he not?) so the prize will have to glitter to drag him all the way to Auckland.

      Back to the post: they probably had a yarn with Michelle Boag. No need to talk to anyone else because Michelle is an expert on everything.

      • Stuart Munro. 4.3.1

        Kurow I believe – or the English mafia might’ve grabbed him before now. Cigarette industry children don’t have the same draw.

      • The Fairy Godmother 4.3.2

        My pick is either Lance Sullivan or Mark Richardson. We could definitely have a sweepstake on it.

        • Graeme 4.3.2.1

          A likely victim is pontificating just in front of haymush (compost) and soimon above. He’s reasonably local and would have a good hold over that electorate and a reliable source of fund raising.

        • Anne 4.3.2.2

          Mark Richardson? Bring it on. He would be easy meat because he is so thick.

    • Dukeofurl 4.4

      They will have a Chinese candidate – Pansy Wong was parachuted in when the seat was created, originally when she got into parliament on the list she was based in Christchurch.
      This is the reason Ross wont be ‘waka-ed out’, a Chinese candidate in a by election would attract too much attention after the donation issues, as Ross would likely re contest.
      In a general election news media only cover the leaders and mostly ignore Auckland electorate seats

  5. Clive Macann 5

    This sort of poor English bugs me.
    “He has ordered an review into this.”
    Being an ex-teacher, it leaps out at me with bells ringing.
    Should be “He has ordered a review into this.”

    • Anne 5.1

      Have you noticed the poor standard of online news reporting Clive Macann? Not a day goes by when I don’t pick up an appalling grammatical error or just generally poor English writing techniques.

      They don’t teach them good English skills anymore. Nor do the younger among us have anything like the breadth of vocabulary of the older generation. I put it down to their mindless and endless texting of a disjointed version of the language when communicating with one another. For that reason, I wont have a bar of the texting craze.

    • joe90 5.2

      But but.. bringing the subediting in house was supposed to keep those sorts of errors out of the paper.

      Earlier this week, NZME announced it would not be renewing its contract with Pagemasters and that it would be taking its sub-editing requirements for The New Zealand Herald titles and regional papers in-house, bringing an end to a partnership that stretches back to 2007.

      NZME chief operating officer Phil Eustace says that bringing the sub-editing work in-house will enable the publisher to “strengthen production services across the group and expand [its] resources across print and digital publishing.”

      https://stoppress.co.nz/news/nzme-take-sub-editing-house-job-cuts-likely-follow-pagemasters

      • Dukeofurl 5.2.1

        Translation – more stories lifted from other publications so they would be ‘slightly used’ and dont need further editing.
        Probably they are expecting ‘production journalists- the new name for sub editors- to find story’s online through social media and less doing a chop shop on journalists storys for space reasons as that doesnt matter in an online world.

        Could be they are using that online tool that improves grammar and word selection -Grammarly.

      • lprent 5.2.2

        My partner delights in pointing out the egregious editing errors in the NZH especially the online version.

        Offhand I can’t remember the last time I saw actual newsprint from anyone. How do you find it? Nothing quite as good at wrapping some of the garbage and constraining the smell after it sucks up the decay juices.

    • greywarshark 5.3

      Clive Macann
      Those who can do, those who can’t preach.

      • Hanswurst 5.3.1

        Those who can do what?

      • Doogs 5.3.2

        I tear my hair out GWS
        There are 2 sentences here.
        1. Those who can do.
        2. Those who can’t preach.

        This how it could or should be written to give the best clarity.

        “Those who can, do – those who can’t, preach.”

        or “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, preach”

        Imagine the change in meaning without the commas. It would be rubbish and meaningless.
        Call me a pedant if you will. I accept that.
        Apart from that, this is an over-used and rather trite little aphorism, which through time and use has become all but irrelevant.

        QED

  6. Dennis Frank 6

    “Party president Peter Goodfellow said today the review made some suggestions as to how the party could “catch up with international best practice, which was the purpose”.” https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12220648

    I’m waiting for a reporter to ask him about the bible of international best practice, and when he replies `well, there isn’t one’, then ask him how the hell he can identify it then.

    “Well, um, ah, we get a sense of it by seeing what is done elsewhere.” Like in China, where slow learners are put in concentration camps to learn how to conform? Like in the USA, where the culture is `shoot first, ask questions later’? Like fundamentalist islamic countries, where bits of people get amputated to help them enculture properly? One could go on, but seems to me the general rule is cultural diversity. I’ve never heard of international best practice culture. I bet Goodfellow hasn’t either.

    “He said while the review had been completed some weeks ago, the party was waiting to see what came out of the wider review of Parliament’s culture ordered by Speaker Trevor Mallard and being carried out by Debbie Francis.”

    “If there was anything in the Francis review that would be useful to the National Party review it would be added in, he said. “The decision was made to align the two sets of processes given that people work on both sides.””

    Both sides of what?? Does he mean National women work for the Opposition too?? I doubt it. Does he mean parliament is the real opposition to National? Subtle, but I doubt it. Does he mean that the National Party is split down the middle, and some Nat women are on one side, some on the other? Hmm. Freudian slip?

  7. Tiger Mountain 7

    Did Mr Goodfellow and Mr Bridges interview each other? All good then–job done!

  8. Formerly Ross 8

    I imagine that National will release its report when Labour releases its policy into a capital gains tax. 🙂 The former will be lost in all the noise.

  9. The National party , – otherwise known as the ChiNational party. And Bridges inherited THIS :

    Ruthanasia – Wikipedia
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruthanasia

    John Key discusses Dotcom saga – YouTube
    Video for John Key discusses Dotcom saga▶ 17:29

  10. The National party , – otherwise known as the ChiNational party.

    Dissecting the GCSB bill – Campbell Live (Kim Dotcom scandal …
    Video for Dissecting the GCSB bill – Campbell Live (Kim Dotcom scandal)▶ 16:11

  11. The National party , – otherwise known as the ChiNational party.

    John Key, mass surveillance and what really happened when Edward …
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz › New Zealand

    John Key Fails – YouTube
    Video for John Key Fails▶ 5:26

  12. The great big list of John Key’s big fat lies (UPDATED) « The Standard
    https://thestandard.org.nz/the-great-big-list-of-john-keys-big-fat-lies-updated/

    Notice little Soimon in the background….

    Darren Watson – Planet Key – YouTube

  13. The National party , – otherwise known as the ChiNational party.

    So f@ck little johhny hairpuller key , f@ck his lieutenant little soimon 10 bridges , and all the rest of their grabastic money grubbing crew. And that includes little judy collins and her orivida scam . – AND her dirty politics.

    Has the ChiNational party got ‘ culture ‘ problems?

    You bet.

    And little soimon bridges is part of that culture.

    New Right Fight – Who are the New Right?
    http://www.newrightfight.co.nz/pageA.html

    And most of it can be traced right back to little roger douglas and his grubby little fingers- a LABOUR party kiddie to begin with before he rushed off to form ACT ,… you know,… the one little davie see- less currently runs. the 0.8% party.

    The ChiNational party.

    Fucking arseholes to a man.

    And woman.

    Home Brew – ‘LISTEN TO US’ – YouTube

  14. ”That’s for raping our sovereignty ”

    NZ MP Steven Joyce – Hit In Face By Dildo (Full Video 2016) – YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE0Eqg614vM

    Good job.

    The ChiNational party with its chinese spy MP .

    Newsroom Investigation: National MP trained by Chinese spies
    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/…/newsroom-investigation-national-mp-trained-by-chinese..

    Jian Yang (politician) – Wikipedia
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jian_Yang_(politician)

  15. Little stephen joyce and his 11 billion dollar hole.

    Comedian John Oliver mocks Steven Joyce – YouTube

    The only hole is the one he speaks out of, – his arse – along with all the other grabastic holes his fellow ChiNational party crony’s speak out of, – including little soimon bridges.

  16. Do y’all remember THIS ?????

    john campbell interviews simon bridges FULL campbell live – YouTube

  17. Or … THIS ????

    John Key breaks his word to Pike River Mine families – YouTube

  18. YOU BASTARDS !!!

    Black Sabbath – Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath – YouTube

  19. And this is the Hell you set yourself up for when you go ‘ Globalist’ … you earn it well, you’re damned and cursed from the very people you sought to manipulate. Do you think you will escape the wrath to come?

    Little soimon, – get out of politics now . Get back to your wonderful Baptist church you grew up under with your wonderful father , Pastor Heath Bridges of Te Atatu Baptist church . Who I knew well.

    New Living Translation

    ” You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say ”.

    Thunder Underground – YouTube

  20. Here’s your hero jonnhy ‘ hair puller ‘ key , … soimon.

    In case you forgot…

    This is what people really think of your crap ,shitty little globalist neo liberal ChiNational party.

    John Key booed off the stage at the Big Gay Out – LGBT … – YouTube

  21. Contrast that shithead with the PM we have now…

    NZ Mosque Shootings: PM tells Muslims in Christchurch … – YouTube

  22. Labour , NZ First and the Greens.

    After all of this , there really is NO other alternative.

    Unless you want a return to the skulduggery of the hair puller and his perverted mates.

    I think I’ve made the point perfectly clear.

    And if you right wing perverts think I’ve bombed the place, – well its been a long time in coming. You deserve EXACTLY what you get. Socially spurned, degraded in the public’s eye, shown for what exactly you are… anti sovereignty ,globalist neo liberal one world government sycophants.

    Who don’t give a rats shit about anybody except your selves.

    We don’t need you , we don’t want you, and we reject you.

    Eat it.

  23. crashcart 23

    Is there any way to filter out Wild Katipo’s spam?

    • Truth hurts, my old son?

      What is it about recent political history that disturbs you?

      Truth?

      Timely reminders?

      Recalling the very roots of soimons party?

      Well,… which is it ???

      C’mon, answer .

      Truth is you havent got an answer.

      John Campbell among the TPP protesters: RNZ Checkpoint – YouTube

    • Unicus 23.2

      Don’t you mean the -National Party’s spam – disseminated by its own quisling media

      • crashcart 23.2.1

        The content is not so much the issue as the format. 13 posts one after the other mostly just linking to videos. Complete waste of space. I will happily read through a wall of text but having to scroll down through videos I don’t have any inclination to watch with a couple of angry sentences that barely make sense, is just annoying.

        • WILD KATIPO 23.2.1.1

          …’ but having to scroll down through videos I don’t have any inclination to watch with a couple of angry sentences that barely make sense, is just annoying ‘…

          And that’s just the problem.

          Types like you not only cant register what is sound and vision , you cannot register what is plainly put forward in front of your face. When confronted with the point blank evidence you balk. You have no answers. You would hope that those shameful deeds committed under the hair puller would FADE from peoples memories. No such luck.

          Some of us have very , very long memories.

          And when its shoved in front of your face in a format that EVERYBODY else understands , – barring yourself for convenient political purposes, – you start to cry.

          I don’t care.

          Cry me a river , son.

          No one cares anymore.

          • crashcart 23.2.1.1.1

            Are you off your medication? Sound and vision is far from an issue thanks.

            I can see that you are trying to make the point that all these videos show a toxic culture in the National party, although as great as Black Sabbath are I don’t see how it helps your argument.

            I happen to agree that it is beyond ridiculous to carry out a review of culture towards women and not interview any women.

            What I don’t see is how you think linking to other peoples videos and thinking, in anyway shows that you have done any of your own. How about you put together a coherent post about why you think National are toxic and why you think the review is merely a white wash?

            Its funny because when I posted my original comment I knew exactly where it would go. No matter how edgy or higher thinking you may think you are, you really are very predictable.

            • WILD KATIPO 23.2.1.1.1.1

              Water off a ducks back , my old vicious troll.

              Just watch the vids, and see if they don’t speak for themselves.

              In them you will see yourself. And your vacuous bitching.

          • McFlock 23.2.1.1.2

            Oh, bollocks.

            Those links were preaching to the choir for most people here, and the non-choir members wouldn’t give a shit about your vids anyway. At best they’ll watch one and think you’re full of shit.

            Meanwhile, anyone who already thinks the nats are a bunch of wankers gets carpal tunnel scrolling down because they don’t need to spend 40minutes (or whatever the cumulative total of those vids might be) reindoctrinating themselves.

            Fucksake, you’re not a goddamn missionary in the wilderness.

            • WILD KATIPO 23.2.1.1.2.1

              Sorry bud, embarrassing YOU , and all the rest of the globalistic scumbags whether they be of Labour or National is part of the game. Could care less what party your tribalism belongs to.

              I really could care less.

              But if you really want to put a hand up for th ChiNationls. be my guest.

              And thats just the thing… you , I would safely presume , would be the sort of far right neo liberal who did this guy in:

              https://youtu.be/5srcxBinZyI?t=93

              Guys like YOU come in all shapes and guises.

              You’re a neo liberal ell out , McFlock.

              You shouldn’t even be here

              • McFlock

                lol if we ain’t engrossed by every second of video you post, we’re nat supporters, huh?

                How very George W of you.

                • Nope, your answers and allegiance speak for themselves loud and clear.

                  ‘ lol’

                  Yeah … ‘ lol’

                  Kind of hollow. We don’t care either.

                  Caught you out as well.

                  Don’t care if your hide behind a moderator status. Facts are you are what you are. Do the Labour party need anymore of your type of neo liberal ilk?

                  Hardly.

                  • McFlock

                    “moderator status”? lol. are you on drugs?

                    Dunno what you caught, but it’s imaginary.

          • Gabby 23.2.1.1.3

            You a bit cwoss katty bro?

            • WILD KATIPO 23.2.1.1.3.1

              Hehehee… that all you’ve got?

              Just a random thought?

              No video or even saying ‘ why, and where in the video the relevant section can be found ? ‘.

              Fail.

    • Muttonbird 23.3

      Lighten up.

      Who doesn’t love an epic rant every now and then? Plus, it’s cathartic and cleansing. This is the best place for it and it’s WK’s place too.

      I say go right ahead – more people should do it.

      • The Al1en 23.3.1

        Yep, the only thing better than drinking too much at lunch time, is drinking too much at breakfast.

        • Muttonbird 23.3.1.1

          Well I enjoyed reminiscing about John Key’s lies and goofy creepiness and it made me feel a lot better that we are rid of him.

          If WK needs the release then I’m very happy for him to do it here among friends.

  24. John Key Denies Contact With Slater – YouTube

  25. Soimon… you need to go back to your Baptist roots.

    I Wish We’d All Been Ready – YouTube

  26. AB 27

    Bridges and the National caucus seem to be forgetting that they are merely the hired help. Their job is to win power and deliver business-friendly policy. If they continue to stuff up like this they’ll get a visit from their bosses.

    • Their Mont Pelerin bosses, yes.

      New Right Fight – Who are the New Right?
      http://www.newrightfight.co.nz/pageA.html

      [Enough of the video spam, thanks. Write your own opinions and if a video is a useful addition to your argument, say why, and where in the video the relevant section can be found. TRP]
      [lprent: If you want to post videos on posts, at least make an argument about why it is relevant to a post. If you can’t think of one, then do it in Open Mike. Otherwise eventually a mod will get irritated and remove the problem. You know the drill. ]

      • WILD KATIPO 27.1.1

        Was the last post a video spam?

        No.

        Anyways, you get what you deserve.

        If this people cannot tolerate the truth about NZ politics that’s no concern of mine. You’ve been hit with what was patently and obviously the truth fron recent history. If you cannot handle that ,its not my problem. If you want to have an echo chamber and play charades, so be it. Good luck to you.

        [I put the mod note on your most recent comment so I could be reasonably sure you would see it. TS is not an echo chamber as the number of comments every day with varying political stances shows. However, this is not facebook and if you treat the site like a dumping ground for your random thoughts, you will indeed “get what you deserve”. TRP]

  27. rod 28

    + 100 W K Keep up the good work, these tory trolls don’t like it up em.

    • Skunk Weed 28.1

      Agree +100% Wild Kat letting off a bit of steam today, got told off, shit happens some days at least he has given us some interesting stuff to think about.

  28. ken 29

    National has an internal culture?
    That would explain the irritation and the unpleasant discharges.

  29. fender 30

    Should have worn the gumboots, there’s Wild Cat Poo everywhere

  30. Skunk Weed 31

    Agree +100% Wild Kat letting off a bit of steam today, got told off, shit happens some days at least he has given us some interesting stuff to think about.

  31. Incognito 32

    I think calling it a “review” is overstating it as it seems more like a polling (by Curia?) of a select few National MPs (and emotional junior staffers?). No wonder Simon Bridges has not seen the report because he knows or at least expects it will be pretty meaningless.

  32. If you’d really like to know the motives behind ‘spamming’ videos it was to set the record straight right at the get go with regards the National party culture that Bridges has inherited. And before the Bm’s, the Gosmans and their entourage could even get a look in, I posted them in a tour de force.

    Many of the same characters are still there that were under Key, Bennett the private citizen leaker , Brownlee the ChCh fail et al , – and in my considered opinion along with tens of thousands of others , – it was one the most corrupt and self serving govts this country has ever known. The fact nothing has been done about Key to this day is incredible.

    They say ‘ a picture is worth a thousand words’.

    I find it amazing that a few objected seeing as how most videos supplied were ACTUAL NEWS FOOTAGE.

    There IS NO REFUTING THEM.

    They are what they are. Historic accounts captured on film for all to reassess in the context of current National party culture – including that of Bridges. As a reminder – and a very pertinent one , of just how down the rabbit hole this country went under the corrupt Key govt.

    I would say these vids provide a warning of what could very easily happen again if we do not stop to reflect on what we just managed by the skin of our teeth to avoid last election. So no , I was not ‘letting off stream ‘, – yet neither was I prepared to give any right wing troll any foothold to derail or defend Bridges and his party by having a ‘nice wee chat over a cup of tea ‘ about them.

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