Maurice Williamson should stay sleeping says King

The Rip Van Winkle of the National Party, Maurice Williamson, would be better off staying asleep, because every time he wakes up, he angers his leader John Key, says Transport Minister Annette King

"Poor old Maurice, Transport Minister in the 1990s and opposition spokesman for the past nine years, has slept for most of those 20 years, like his namesake Rip.

"Unlike Rip, however, he occasionally wakes up, not to do anything useful, but to put his foot in his mouth," she said.

"Last month he got into trouble with Mr Key by saying National would charge $50 a week for some toll roads. Mr Key said then that a figure of $2 a trip was more likely to be charged.

"Today, Maurice has fearlessly re-entered the fray and upped his boss by 50 percent, putting $3 a trip on the table or $30 a week.

"John Key is upset again and has been forced to tell Maurice off a second time."

Ms King says perhaps the public should be grateful.

"If it wasn't for his honesty, which seems to bubble forth whenever he awakens unexpectantly, the public wouldn't know what to expect from National.

"It is quite clear what Maurice's approach would be if he ever became transport minister. Motorists would be paying, time after time."

ENDS

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