The worst-behaved MP’s of 2003

New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters, was far and away the worst behaved MP in Parliament this year, according to United Future leader Peter Dunne’s annual register of MPs’ behaviour in the House.

Mr Peters was named by the Speaker once, expelled from the House four times and ordered to withdraw and apologise 19 times, giving him a winning total of 36 points.

Mr Peters, who also led the list of bad behaviour last year, successfully defended his title from fast-rising bovver boy, ACT’s Rodney Hide, who came from nowhere to get 23 points from one naming, four expulsions and 6 withdrawals.

National’s Nick Smith, who was second equal last year, has dropped to third on the list with four expulsions and 10 withdrawals for a total of 22 points.

Labour’s resident kneecapper, Trevor Mallard, maintained last year’s fourth place with a total of 18 points from 3 expulsions and 9 withdrawals.

ACT leader Richard Prebble, unranked last year, took fifth place with one naming, 2 expulsions and 2 withdrawals for a total of 13 points.

National’s deputy leader, Gerry Brownlee, fifth equal last year, came in at sixth with 12 points from 2 expulsions and six withdrawals.

Seventh place is shared by Labour’s David Cunliffe and New Zealand First’s Ron Mark, while the eighth spot sees Labour’s chief whip, David Benson-Pope, jostling with Health Minister Annette King.

Commenting, Mr Dunne said 2003 was probably the worst behaved year in Parliament for the past five years.

“For those people wondering just which parties bring Parliament into public disrepute, Labour MPs were expelled 21 times altogether; National 16 times; NZ First 8; ACT 7. No United Future or Progressive MPs offended at all.

“Overall, ACT is the worst behaved party with half its MPs featuring; followed by National; then Labour; then New Zealand First (its result even then is heavily skewed by Winston’s behaviour).”

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