Government must rope in Matt Robson

National Party Defence spokesman Simon Power says the Government should move to rope in one of its Coalition MPs after repeated attempts to score political points at the expense of our friends and allies.

"Progressive MP Matt Robson has condemned the US Government for plans to 'ban firms based in countries which opposed the invasion of Iraq ... from competing for some contracts to rebuild the country'.

"He's quite wrong," says Mr Power.

"The New Zealand Labour Government opposed the US led liberation of Iraq, and it IS listed as a country eligible to compete for contracts funded with US appropriated funds.

"It's the second time in recent days that Mr Robson has shot from the lip, only to leave the Labour Government looking silly.

"His decision not to support Don McKinnon for a second term as the Commonwealth Secretary General forced Jim Anderton to order his silence and now he's got his facts wrong on the rebuilding of Iraq.

"Labour has done enough on its own to harm relationships with our friends and allies without Mr Robson adding insult to injury," says Mr Power.

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