Key takes pride in claiming open and transparent government.
So I’m challenging him to come clean on why he is not being tough on Bill English ripping the taxpayer off for over a decade.
I think I know why. Key feels guilty. He took out a mortgage on a Wellington flat for the sole purpose of claiming an allowance from the taxpayer when he was worth over $50m. When caught by Cullen he repaid the mortgage and stopped claiming.
I’m not saying he made a false declaration as to his circumstances – but it helps understand why he is protecting someone who almost certainly did.
“Key takes pride in claiming open and transparent government.” LOL
I don’t understand why a rich man would need a mortgage?
Oh I get it. Half asleep.
unbelievable!
Did this make the MSM?
The answer is simple. Do a Jerry and don’t answer. “Waddaya goin to do about it? Huh? Huh?”
As this is the first I’ve seen of it, my guess is no, the Mainstream Media haven’t seen this one yet.
Do you have any supporting material on this Trevor? Where and how did Cullen catch this?
Yeah whatever.
Look…playing Key the man isn’t going to work until he has a lot more decisions made behind him.
God only knows there are plenty of policy and decisions already made that you lot ought to be broadcasting…along with your alternatives.
National and Act are busy begining to gut ACC..after having a go at education etc etc.Heartland stuff.Yet the best Labour can do is ensure the public are confused and that you sink even lower in the polls.
Do you really think the public care that much that politicans seek to maximise their financial position within the rules you all set for yourselves? That this whole beatup is mostly due to our media desperately wanting to find parallels with the British debacle.
The blogs are doing a better job of informing the public about the effects of National’s policy and actions than Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition.
Get back on point.
Mr Mallard, I don’t suppose Mr Key would feel any more guilty than stop trolling Tim. Trevor
Peter Martin makes some good points. There is a new post on The Standard “Labour where art thou?”
Oh right.There it is.
‘Hon TREVOR MALLARD to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement “I certainly would describe my style as open and transparent”?’
Number 10 on todays list.
Let me guess…you will ask the question, there will be plenty of faux ooohs around you and Key will dance away with the initiative.Every chance you will end up in a scrap with the Speaker.And then a patsy from the National backbench. *yawn*
Meanwhile as No Right Turn rightly asks us…and someone ought to be asking key…’why has the Govt said “National would “need to be convinced that there were benefits both to the Government and the private sector”…when hocking off ACC…and not said what benefits there will be for us?… Those who use the bloody scheme.
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2009/10/national-will-give-act-what-it-wants.html
More wasted opportunities. *sigh*
News at 11: the rich get richer by playing the system!
Now there’s a surprise.
And I agree with the others. However iniquitous this is, it’s the wrong fight when NACT are destroying so many important things. Labour needs to find it’s game again quickly, or these muppets will get a second term – which will make this one look like a kiddy’s tea party.
Doing a ‘me too’ on the Nat MMP referendum agenda is not going to help with that, either.
@Peter, I disagree, I think the public are interested in how politicians are benefiting from living allowances.
I do agree that Labour needs to attack this ACC thing!
Mr Mallard you know I’m not trolling, I simply mentioned an example that you don’t want any airtime given towards. In the age of the internet, Mr Mallard, I would think you might come to the view that such petty censorship would have its limits.
I am concerned, Mr Mallard, that your party just isn’t registering with voters. Picking up pointless, petty issues like this and trying to pretend that your party didn’t do it as well isn’t endearing yourself towards closing the electoral gap.
I wonder if Labour caucus members will overlook that you have been driving Labour’s strategy for some time Mr Mallard.
“So I’m challenging him to come clean on why he is not being tough on Bill English ripping the taxpayer off for over a decade.”
When you lot (balance trolling warning. Trevor)
Well Spud, the publics interest in politicans enriching themselves isn’t expressed in the snapshot of current opinion that are the polls.
And as I have said…Labour running around in circles gathering straws to put on Nationals back is just distracting from the fact that National is busy selling the straw paddock.
@Peter – I’m just going by conversations that I’ve had and have overheard, people do care about the Blinglish thing, well some people do.
I do agree with you that Labour should be attacking the cuts to health, education and ACC. I agree that there are bigger blows to be had with those things and they are more important, but I disagree that the public won’t care if Key did that.
Dammit, I forgot to remove my aristocratic name!
I’m sure some folk do care about it,Lord Pomme de Terre…*g*..I’m certainly not impressed over it. And calling English ‘Double Dipton’ will always be an easy hit. But English is just as likely to bait and switch when he has an agenda.You know how it goes: he is busy ramming through policy that is to the detriment of everyone but the usual select few and is happy to bring up the subject of the left always going on about his lawful allowances…and away everyone goes again…and away he goes secure in the knowledge that folk really do care about his allowances…and know bugger all about his policy.
What does *g* mean? I hope that Labour can get some decent hits over the ACC thing and that it doesn’t go away.
Some unsolicited advice for Trevor:
You’re on a hiding-to-nothing with this.
For as long as I’ve been interested in politics (about 20 years, give or take) it’s been clear to me that the general consensus of the public is that ALL our politicians are crooks, with no more ambition than to feather their own nests.
While you’re all on the merry go round of accusing each other of taking more than you’re entitled, 99.9% of the voting public have already tarred you all with the same brush.
Don’t forget his little rort ( deleted while correct trolling as much as Tim above. Trevor )
Tim Ellis @ 12.57 Clearly we disagree on what constitutes trolling. And for some reasons I don’t really think the future of the Labour Party is central to your concerns.
I don’t really think the future of the Labour Party is central to your concerns
It’s been central to your concerns? WHO KNEW?!
the future of the Labour should be central to all our concerns as it is with the Nats. A weak opposition does no-one any good.
ok back to whether John should apply the standards to Bill that he eventually applied to himself – or even one that is slightly lower.
Keep it up Mr Mallard. Every time you attack you give the Gnats another two point rise in the polls.
Are they paying you?
@Trevor – as low as say Dipton?
Cullen catching Key was like being five and being caught with your hand in the cookie jar. *Kaine rolls on the floor with hysterical laughter*
Mr Key is no more inclined to reprimand Bull-Unglish in as much as he is disnclined to reprimand Gaffe Wilkinson for her patent inadequacies. *Kaine rolls on the floor with hysterical laughter – then frowns at Fire-at-Will*
Mr Key will of course get on Breakfast tele, smile, gush and say “Well, look, I mean, ahh, y’know, thus usn’t something, I mean, y’know, he made a mistake and he’s working through. Look, at the ahh, at the end of the day, y’now, thus usn’t a bug deal aye?” *Bless ya wee heart*
Meanwhile, what’s happening with ACC and the MMP referrendum where Cabinet gets to choose the alternative electoral systems we have to nominate for consideration against MMP in 2014… WHAT? “Ut’s an ulucted ductatershup”!
Twist the thread all you like, Peter Martin and other folks, and pray you don’t get deleted. Rent rorting the issue is, and who cares that Labour dropped the ball a while ago on ACC and all. (They dropped it about 10 years ago when they let it continue with the pay-now-for-the-future approach which gives room for claims of blowout and unsustainability. Not to mention all the other dead fish they left on the beach for National to roll in.) But no, picking at the petty rorts is where it’s at today.
That’s interesting information on Key.
Balance off thread deleted Trevor
I really enjoy Red Alert debating issues around supporting our fellow NZers vs economic freedom…
But I must say I am saddened whenever I log on and see another mud sling from TM… This type of thing is why the public has such a low opinion of politicans, it ends as a pox on both parties houses…
If you want back in 2011, come up with a comprehensive, costed plan to extend healthcare to the feilds of dentistry, optometry and expand plunket, to remove the University interest unfairly placed on NZers now in their 30’s and re-introduce very low fee for Uni, extend daycare, move WFF spending to a tax-free threshold for the poorest NZers…
These are core Labour values, the ones of Savage and Fraser and the ones NZers would vote for again if given the chance and better offerings than: Politican works within the system to maximise benefits (but don’t look at our party)…
If no one brings up misdemeanors then people would get away with murder.
Granted Spud but when every post from an individual is crying foul it leads to a boy crys wolf scenario, it erodes the very important job opposition does in NZ keeping the government to account…
Oh I’m sure they’ll do that
I have every faith in this opposition. 
Greetings, An addition to a previous posting attempting a summary of the Government mounting record …..
Nick Smith & ACC: Shambolic
Maori seats on Auckland Council: Sham
World Cup TV rights: Shambles
Bill English ripping taxpayers over his allowance and John Key’s earlier precedent: Shameless
JohnKey’s government is revealing itself to be a real S !
Well then Spud I guess you haven’t seen the poll ratings lately…
Yes I have seen the poll ratings, but I’m not giving up on Labour. I do think they have it in them to turn it around.
Jeremy – Read the Labour Party manifesto, I think you’ll find most of what you asked about was in there and is policy detail the Labour Party campaigned on. Labour also proposed the gradual extension of the Paid Parental Leave scheme, enhancements to Kiwisaver, massive investments in job rich-infrastructure projects across New Zealand over ten years and on, and on, and on.
Perhaps New Zealanders got so wrapped up in what was reported, they forgot to establish for themselves what – in actual fact – each of the parties was asking for the opportunity through government to do. Few people now days will sit to look at a manifesto, are ask about what a policy means, people tend to read headlines.
This is what poll ratings reflect… these are numbers that reflect what people understand the media to have shown them. Don’t believe that? ask anyone in the street about the details of the rent expenditure debacle – most people have an opinion, few people have the facts.
You’re right, I only read the manifesto after they lost
. The public don’t give if a second thought.
Don’t be so hard on yourself Spud, you read the manifesto and (I’m guessing) decided you agreed with the majority of the Labour party positions in it. Good engagement with the political process.
I agree with you about your faith in Labour, as has often been said before, only one poll matters, and that is some years away. Even if the Labour party is unable to get a working coalition together after 2011, under MMP the more votes Labour receives, the more powerful an opposition they will be.
Trevor, and Kaine T’s reference to Wilkinson is not “trolling” by your definition? Please explain. I get the sense that this ‘editing’ gig has gone to your head.
The first part of your comment is fair Jennifer – I was at a movie last night and was not careful enough in my review when I got home.
I do have a few problems dealing with slow learners and find repeatedly moderating trolls a waste of time.
Will think about using bans as a way of sorting those issues.
This though is the end of this off thread conversation. Every now and again we post on the direction of Red Alert and you can bring up your gripes then.
cough, it was funny though, cough.
Point of order!! Trevor, I don’t think it was trolling of me to say that Wilkinson has been known as gaffe prone – Duncan garner said it on several of his missives about the current state of play. I wasn’t being nasty, I apologise if Jennifer takes offence on her behalf.