NZ First leader Winston Peters is calling for an apology from Independent MP Brendan Horan after 'baseless” and 'underhand” complaints about party spending were dismissed by Parliamentary Service.
NZ First said today that Parliamentary Service has dismissed Brendan's complaint, made under Parliamentary privilege in May, over the alleged misuse of taxpayer funds.
NZ First leader Winston Peters and Independent MP Brendan Horan.
This included accusations NZ First used $20,000 of its party's leader's budget to fund the Vanguard computer system to use for campaigning and fundraising.
In a statement this morning the NZ First leader said he is disappointed the accusations of a 'disgruntled” Brendan have forced the party and Parliamentary Services into an extensive, time-wasting exercise – with speaker David Carter having to investigate claims.
He says the party's parliamentary staff have been put through unnecessary scrutiny.
'This has been a disgraceful abuse by an MP of the process around parliamentary funding, and New Zealand First is concerned at the undue media attention and time this MP's abuse of process has been given,” says Winston.
He adds the National Government gave some of its question time in Parliament to the Independent MP enabling him to make a number of the allegations.
He believes the MP should apologise.
But Brendan remains unapologetic saying it's 'a bit rich” from Winston.
"That's a bit rich coming from a party leader who sacked two staff members on hearsay, denied one of his own MPs due process, and hid behind parliamentary privilege to smear that MP,” says Brendan.
'I stand by my decision to bring this matter to the Speaker's attention. While I accept the Speaker's findings, there are anomalies that are remain unexplained.”
It is also understood that the NZ First staff member at the centre of allegations resigned last week.
Peters said Dawson had had a "gutsful".
"He said some time ago that he would stay until this matter was cleared but he'd had a gutsful of being treated that way by the media and others and the allegations were baseless. I utterly understand," Peters told Stuff.co.nz
Read more about the allegations made here.
3 comments
WHY OH WHY
Posted on 07-07-2014 15:21 | By FunandGames
DO PEOPLE VOTE FOR WINSTON PETERS. I have had the misfortune to attend a select committee hearing attended by Winston Peters. I came away disgusted by what I consider rude and bullying behaviour by Winston to an elderly gentleman making a submission.
History
Posted on 07-07-2014 15:43 | By The Sage
Bring on September. Don't think Horan will be so vocal after the elections.
Peters First
Posted on 07-07-2014 21:06 | By bogside
If anyone is thinking that either of these people can do anything useful for NZ then they need to think again. Horan is a spent force and is history. Peters is a joke looking for an audience to get a laugh. He is a political animal that has already proved he cannot work constructively with anyone else which in the modern environment of politics is a hopeless position! Winston its time to bugger off and reap some benefit from the little advantages you managed to wring out of your messy involvement. We need people with vision and vitality not navel gazers, pretenders or rabble rousers. If any of you out there are thinking of voting for this then you risk getting the government you deserve!
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