10 May 2002

If Jim Anderton thinks that the Speaker's ruling on my complaint to the Privileges Committee is the end of the matter, he is seriously mistaken, says National's Shadow Leader of the House, Gerry Brownlee.

"I accept that the Speaker has made the ruling, but it is extremely disappointing.

"Is it a breach of privilege, and misleading the House, for Mr Anderton to quite clearly leave the Alliance outside Parliament, but come into the House every day and claim to be the Leader of that party?

"He is the man, who along with Helen Clark, championed the Electoral Integrity Act. The intent of the Act was clear - MPs who leave their party have to leave Parliament. If Helen Clark had enough integrity to stick to what she campaigned on, she would not tolerate this behaviour.

"Jim Anderton shouldn't be allowed to hide behind deficiencies in the Standing Orders in order to perpetrate this double standard," says Mr Brownlee.

Ends

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