John Armstrong is positively (seeing as how Judge Holden has told us we're too negative) scathing towards Labour leader David Shearer this morning; he opines:
A straightforward case of glasshouses and the indiscriminate chucking of large rocks by Labour's leader therein?David Shearer took a firm line on John Banks' recent troubles, demanding the Act leader be stood down as a minister while police investigate whether he breached local body electoral law.That stance has come back to bite Shearer big-time in the form of Labour MP Shane Jones and the case of his four-year-old ministerial approval - despite officials' advice - of citizenship for a Chinese millionaire who also happened to be a donor to the Labour Party.The Prime Minister is accusing the Labour leader of hypocrisy. John Key is right. In failing to stand down Jones from his front bench, Shearer has not been 100 per cent consistent in applying the same standard to one of his MPs as he demanded should be applied to Banks.As Key did with Banks and the donations by Kim Dotcom, Shearer has likewise accepted Jones' assurances that he followed proper processes when he approved the citizenship application of Chinese businessman Yong Ming Yan.
But Armstrong has fallen for Shearer's spin:
Shearer, however, can claim some mitigating factors. He confronted Jones immediately and directly after Yan, also known as Bill Liu, boasted in court that he had MP friends who would ensure he got citizenship. Shearer also conducted his own informal inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the approval. Key, in contrast, did not speak to Banks and instead only got his chief of staff to question him once the story started to get legs.
That's a nonsense. This story has been around for almost four years. John Armstrong knows that, because his colleagues at the Herald have written numerous stories over that period. Swallowing Shearer's line that he first heard about it on Friday is laughable.
Enough of that; Armstrong closes by reflecting on the hole that Shearer has dug for himself.:
That said, the conjunction of citizenship approvals, claims of having mates in Parliament and political donations make for a nasty smell which needs the application of political disinfectant. Jones could make life a lot easier for Shearer and things a lot clearer if he explained exactly why he approved Yan's citizenship despite Yan being red-flagged by Interpol. Jones, however, is not commenting until Yan's trial on fraud charges is over.That Shearer is understood to still be keeping his options open in terms of calling in some independent body like the Auditor-General to conduct an inquiry into the approval of Yan's citizenship suggests the Labour leader realises he is not on terribly strong ground in not standing Jones down, if only temporarily.Shearer will simply have to take Key's criticism on the chin, put it down to experience and give thanks that Budget week means other matters are paramount and thus more likely to grab the public's attention.
20 comments:
Gee, you missed this bit out for some very odd reason...
"Former Labour MP for Te Tai Tokerau, Dover Samuels is also a friend of Yan and wrote in support of his application, along with National Party MP Pansy Wong.
Labour and National each acknowledged receiving donations of $5000 from him before the 2008 election."
Why are you so keen to only discuss one aspect of this case?
"Why are you so keen to only discuss one aspect of this case?"
Because one one Minister was in possession of all the facts and only one Minister made the decision to ignore advice from his officials and only one former Minister is refusing to answer the question as to why?
Just guessing, like.
Indeed. The only question worth asking right now, is what reasons did the (then) Minister have to dismiss the recommendations of IA?
You wanna have a shot at answering that one Judge?
"Shearer, however, can claim some mitigating factors. He confronted Jones immediately and directly"
There in lies the Key difference. Key still maintains he hasn't spoken to Banks.
Why not, Mr Key? Why not? Why not? Why not?
Anyone here like to have a go at answering the question that's too hard for the Prime Minister?
Dover Samuels' claims that the Chinese gentleman in question claimed he would be executed back in China, if his application here failed. Have you taken that into account, Keeping Stock?
How about that for a 'reason', Ciaron?
I've already said that Jones should probably go over this (although he hasn't told outright lies to the public about anything like Banks for instance). However, yesterday IV2 was busy alleging (or not) some sort of wrong doing (which he couldn't lay his finger on) against Cunliffe, while ignoring the National Party's involvement with Liu. Just being even handed. I know that's not popular around here...
Percy,
A very good reason, IF he can porve his innocence of charges leveled against him. Otherwise, what right have we to interfere in the judicial process of another nation?
This morning he broke his silence on the case, saying he had the file on Yan for a month.
"Not, as has been alleged, overnight," he told Radio Live.
Yan, who had also been red-flagged by Interpol based on arrest warrants in China, is on trial in Auckland accused of passport fraud.
Jones said he had been given submissions on Yan's bid for citizenship by both government officials and by an eminent QC.
"I considered the issue and then on humanitarian grounds because the guy had a wife, had kids, and a few others things. I made what was a difficult decision and I stand by that decision. Stuff.
The baying pack will not accept this, I understand, but we now have an explanation that is at least plausible. According to Mr Jones, the case was considered carefully, over an extended period, with multiple avenues of advice (some contrary, perhaps some positive), and, on humanitarian grounds, the application was allowed. This happens, as I can attest personally, There is no evidence of graft (only the unsupported suppositions on the Right that donations equal graft - a view on which National and ACT should be wary about making too many judgements). Mr Shearer accepts the word of Mr Jones on this. We'll see how it plays out, but the smoking gun is still missing - as I say, all there is is supposition and potentially inaccurate drawing of connections. Let the fevered imaginations roll on!
Robert Winter's miles ahead of you, KS.
Do remember Anon, that Shearer is without question Jones' boss. Where as the relasionship between Key and Banksie is somewhat less defined.
*Note, I do not approve of or endorse or vote for any of the parties under discussion.
He is, Ciaron and in response he,
". He confronted Jones immediately and directly after Yan, also known as Bill Liu, boasted in court that he had MP friends who would ensure he got citizenship. Shearer also conducted his own informal inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the approval. Key, in contrast, did not speak to Banks and instead only got his chief of staff to question him once the story started to get legs."
As reported by Armstrong and as highlighted here today by Keeping Stock.
Shearer did as he should have done. Key on the other hand, has fudged the issue so as to avoid facing it and being seen to be connected with it. Your 'excusing' him on the flimsy position that 'he's not so connected' to Banks is sad from a guy like you who likes things to be up-front. You know perfectly well, as the rest of the country knows, that Key should have done as Shearer did, quickly interviewed his Minister and ascertained the real facts. Key didn't and looks shabby. Shearer did and looks straight.
That's nonsense Anon (1.45pm) - the Liu affair and Jones' involvement has been public knowledge since 2008. Shearer has only acted now because the MSM has started reporting it. Principled? No; expedient? Absolutely.
Anon, make no mistake: I do not excuse anyone. I simply do not know what Key is allowed to do WRT disciplining the parliamentary leader of another party. I thought that was clear in my comment, but I will take the constructive criticism:)
Ciaron - disciplining Banks is not the issue. Key should know whether Banks his behaved unethically. It's his responsibility and his stated intention, earlier in his PMship, when he was at least pretending to have integrity. Now, he doesn't even do that. The PM should find out from Banks whether one of his ministers is blighting the Government's name and reputation. That he 'hasn't talked' with banks is a disgrace. I still marvel at your tacit support for Key around this. It's patently obvious. Keeping Stock has no credibility at all on this particular issue and has avoided the detail I'm describing like it's the plague, which it is, on the House. You, Ciaran, know better, I'm sure.
Indeed I do Anon, in fact, it was the overwhelming despair generated by this sort of conduct (by both sides of the house) which lead me to make the obsevation quoted elsewhere on this blog. I will state this for the record: I do not, in any way, shape, or form support National in government or conduct.
In fact, as I said elsewhere (IIRC): when Key first came on the scene, I was very impressed. Here was someone who had made it, who had succeeded against the odds, here was someone who had real life experience, not the career politicians we have had of late. Someone who represented a genuine change for better in NZ politics.
4 years later, all I can see is an obvious combover.
Ciaron - you and me both. We're from different corners, probably (I too have no faith in either Labour or National), but share a dislike for shysters, I'm thinking.
But what makes me wonder who exactly William Yan, also known as Bill Liu and Yang Liu, was talking about when he claimed to have friends in high places, is this Dominion Post article from Saturday:
Mr Key said he had "two relatively superficial meetings" with Yan during the 2008 election campaign.
He was introduced by MP Pansy Wong. Mrs Wong, along with former Te Atatu MP Chris Carter and Mr Samuels, lobbied for Yan to be granted citizenship in 2008.
No answer for Mr Hyde, keeping Stock?
Why not/
Get stuffed Anon (7.55pm). I'll respond at a time and in a manner of my choosing, not yours. Especially when you don't even have the courtesy to identuify yourself or distinguish yourself from all the other Anon's who linger here.
I feel your confusion and pain, KS.
God bless.
@ Mr Hyde - nice try to smear the PM with innuendo, but considering that the citizenship was granted to Liu in July 2008 and the election campaign didn't start until some two months after that, your numbers don't stack up.
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