This is obviously Peters' way of getting back at Lockwood Smith for ejecting Peters from the House on Tuesday afternoon. Although Peters is well within his rights to move any motion he wants, this is simply an extension of the petulance and disrespect he showed as he left the House in disgrace, for the third time in less than a year.
By general acclaim, Lockwood Smith is one of the best Speakers for many years. We would go as far as to say that he is the best we have seen in the years that we have had an active interest in politics, dating back to the 1970's.
And Lockwood Smith could most certainly not be accused of partisanship; he has bent over backwards to get Ministers to answer questions, which at times has pout him at odds with his National Party fellow MP's. His Speakership has been a vast improvement on that of Margaret Wilson, his predecessor.
Many years ago, Winston Peters played rugby to a reasonably competitive level. He should remember from his footie days that the referee is the sole judge of fact and of law. Lockwood Smith is Parliament's referee, and even if he makes a mistake, the players should just get on with the game and not abuse him as Peters did on Tuesday. Seeking redress by way of a no-confidence motion makes Peters look even more petty, spiteful and petulant than we already thought that he was. It is time that he retired.
22 comments:
If Smith failed to follow correct protocol, he must respond appropriately and fairly to Mr Peters' motion.
Even if he did follow correct protocol, he must respond appropriately and fairly.
We shall see.
Chauvel busts Tolley. Good first move.
Parata fails to show. 2nd point to Labour. Even better. The 'sponsors' of 'charter' schools are to remain hidden, exempt from public scrutiny. Sick. Unregistered does not mean unqualified. Tolley talks rubbish.
Is Amy Adam's Nick Smith's evil twin?
She's at least cut from the same bitter blue cloth.
She claims water quality has improved since National came into Office.
Good Lord!
Lockwood (Bless Him) is demanding Adam's stop her idiocy.
Good man, that.
Winston Peters pings Key on a conflict between statements he made. Brownlee fobs it off, as usual. Peters pushes it, claiming Key has given false information to the House on multiple occasions this year...
He has Key caught on the Simon Power question, and requests that the Prime Minister steps down! Brilliant.
No record, no recollection! Peters is correct. Brownlee's answers are illogical.
Robertson is now pinging Key for his lie about his vote on the alcohol purchase age. Robertson pushes. Key is screwed. Caught out, lying. It's becoming the entertainment of the House. A dishonest PM!
Poking your tongue out at teacher is never a good look.
This isn't the Winston of old, who cautioned me to always, in public life, behave with dignity. I'm tempted to suggest that as he has lost all his wise counsellors of old he's become increasingly undisciplined.
{Note to KS: Peters may be pouting, but I think the word you're looking for is "put" in the fifth paragraph]
Hipkins makes Tolley look stupid.
Not difficult, admittedly.
Requesting that his question be held over until Parata is in the House, makes Parata look as though she is frightened of him, which is obviously the case.
Mahuta shames Banks, who is too frightened to answer a single question around Charter Schools.
"That's a shame, Mr Speaker."
Indeed.
You've strayed a long way off the topic House Watcher...stick to commenting on Peters' attack on the integrity of the Speaker please.
I'm concerned about your obsession with people who don't obey the rules or bow to authority, KS. This seems to be the driving thought behind your posts about Winston. He is a naughty boy and wants to talk back to the Speaker when it's against the House rules but you seem to be ignoring all the other negative things that happen in the house that I think are almost worse:
-Throat slitting gesture
-Ministers refusing to answer direct questions.
-Personal put downs
-Braying and jeering while members are speaking
The Government sets and leads the tone in the house and the tone at present is pretty appalling. It was interesting to note that when the Greens attempted to get an agreement on improving the behaviour in the house the National Party refused to sign up.
Be as concerned as you want bsprout; it's no skin off my nose. I call things as I see them, and Peters is being petulant and childish by prolonging his grudge against the Speaker.
Go back and watch the video of Tuesday's proceedings. Peters' behaviour was disgusting, and he must have escaped being named by the narrowest of margins.
Smith is far more even-handed than any Speaker during Helen Clark's time. Peters became far to used to being given a free reign during Margaret Wilson's term as Speaker, and now that someone is standing up to his bullying and disrespect for other members he is behaving like the spoiled child who wants to take his bat and ball and go home when decisions don't go his way.
PS: You left out an example of bad behaviour by an MP too:
http://youtu.be/jl_y8PgxOEM
Oh dear!
bsprout - Hone Harawira represents the naughtiest boy of all to KS and his supporters. Hone just won't do as he is told, won't behave as he is expected to behave and therefore must be vilified. Read every post on Hone ever written here and see how he rips their undies. Winston is a bit of an enigma for them, as he dresses well and enjoys the fruits of capitalism; expensive habits of all sorts, but still behaves 'badly', so must also be attacked at every opportunity.
That's what this post is all about.
The trolls are out in force today; or maybe that should be "the troll". Moderation has been enabled.
bsprout .. all I will say about the speaker is, Margaret Wilson.
bsprout .. all I will say about the speaker is, Margaret Wilson.
Peters used these descriptions of Speaker Lockwood Smith in his no confidence motion:
" ...his gross misunderstanding of Standing Orders...
....his inappropriate and unacceptable handling of the point of order process.....
....abuse of his power as Speaker....
....absolute failure to uphold and protect the standards and reputation of this Parliament."
Could any neutral observer of Lockwood Smith as Speaker agree with such descriptions?
Would any Labour MPs agree?
Would any Green MPs agree?
Would Maori Party MPs agree?
Would Hone Harawira agree?
Would any other single member Party MPs agree?
Would any NZ First MP agree with their leader?
I think the answer would be no to all of those questions.
I could not name one MP, other than Peters himself, who I think would support such description.
bsprout might have the field to himself supporting Peters.
@Decency Rules - if NZ First MP's agreed with their leader, they would have followed him out of the House on Tuesday in a show of solidarity. Winston Peters is a lone voice on this issue, as you suggest.
Oh dear, KS, is that the worst link that you can dredge up against the Greens, unacceptable behaviour certain, but hugely amusing and probably true.
Sorry, Jabba, you've lost me. Are you implying that Lockwood is doing a better job than Margaret, if so that argument has already happened here and there is no argument to be had.
It seems that House Watcher has a very lop-sided view of proceedings in the house today! :-)
@ A Voice Today - so you noticed then?
Lockwood Smith has tried the innovation of giving a precise answer to a precise question. Winston has always fumbled through with half truths and faux outrage, and every time he asks a question he calls a point of order- "Not good enough, Mr Speaker! They're talking rhubarb!"
Lockwood has inadvertantly shown Peters style is ineffective in the House, he only got away with it because his allied party suffered the same with their better questions.
Although, the most entertaining Parliament has been is while he and Prebble were in opposition - the two them would be bickering one moment, then ganging up on the Speaker the next.
nice blog. thanks to share about Winston Peters.
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