The silence of the Prime Minister, John Key, is more problematic still. At first declining to comment because it was the subject of a police investigation, he later said he had "washed his hands" of Worth (who had resigned as a minister and, later, as an MP) and had moved on. But it is not satisfactory for the matter to be left hanging. Cabinet protocol may not require Key to disclose why he lost confidence in his minister and the caucus lost confidence in its colleague. But justice requires that we be told.
This is not simply a question of prurient gossip. The businesswoman's reported statement that Worth had lost his place in the Parliament "and that is enough" (taken together with Labour's having called off its attack over separate allegations once the MP was gone) leaves open the possibility that the object was always to hound him from office. In the interests of transparency of the executive, the matter must be brought to a tidy close - and not simply left to fade away.
There is no question in our mind that Labour's intention was to hound Worth from office. There have been plenty of "hints" from Labour members that certain Ministers were going to be targetted, and in the cold, hard light of day, it is apparent that this was the case with Worth. Phil Goff's explanation of his role in Neelam Choudary's meetings with Worth is far more deserving of a public explanation, in our considered opinion.
We maintain our belief that there is no need for John Key to further explain his decision to sack Worth. In six months in office as a Minister, Worth committed a series of gaffes. His behaviour towards Choudary and the Korean woman was the last straw. But we disagree with the leader writer's statement "But justice requires that we be told". Telling the full story may sell a few more newspapers, but it is not essential to justice.
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2 comments:
Did they also have a fulsome article enquiring into the part Cunliffe and Jones played in allowing an international criminal to be given citizenship of this country in a private ceremony at Parliament.
I am with you John Key does not have to say anything more.
There is only one person who might possibly have something to gain by telling the full story - that person is Richard Worth. However, if the inuendo about his behaviour towards women, over time, is even half right he too is best to keep his mouth shut.
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