It seems the noose is tightening. TV3 last night effectively confirmed that the Police complied with the no surprises policy and told the Government about Mike Sabin’s difficulties.
The country’s top cop says police did not drop the ball when it came to telling the Government about the Mike Sabin issue under the ‘no surprises’ policy.
That means at least one senior government minister knew and that raises the question: why did it take so long for the Prime Minister to find out?
Police Minister Michael Woodhouse was talking freely with his Police Commissioner Mike Bush, as expected – especially when something big is going down.
“There is a ‘no surprises’ policy, obviously,” says Cmmr Bush. “The ‘no surprises’ policy relates to significant issues.”
Issues like a police investigation of a government MP definitely count as significant, but Mr Woodhouse refused to comment at Waitangi today.
So it appears that David Garrett and Rodney Hide are both correct when they said there is no way that the police would not have advised the Government of the investigation into Sabin. These are not tree hugging namby pamby wet behind the ears liberals, these are hard right former politicians who would rather lose a limb than do anything to help the dreaded socialists get back into power. But at least they have principles.
Andrew Little is again on the money. From the same TV3 clip:
The Police Minister has [a] very simple question to answer which is when he was told about the investigation involving Mike Sabin,” says Labour leader Andrew Little. “It’s a pretty simple question, its needs a pretty straight answer, he should give it.”
It seems clear that the police told the Government about the investigation into Sabin. The only issue now is when. Presuming it was before the time that Labour told the Prime Minister’s office a whole load of new questions need to be answered. If I was to put money on it I would guess that the notification happened at the time that the police inquiry started which was no later than August 2014. And if so you have to wonder why the former or current Police Ministers did not immediately sprint into the PM’s office and breathlessly tell him of what was happening, presuming they did not do so.
And the question will be, is this Government incompetent or has John Key been telling us fibs?
Meanwhile John Armstrong in the Herald thinks that Kiwis do not care that the Prime Minister may be lying to them and that Labour should concentrate on debating issues that matter. Like having a new flag? Good luck with that one John.
Next week in Parliament promises to be very interesting.
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