Coleman’s early exit betrays taxpayers (and his voters)

28 MARCH 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union says that electorate MPs should sign pledges confirming they intend to serve a full three-year term, instead of sparking a by-election like Jonathan Coleman has.

Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says, “If an electorate MP isn’t committed to three years in Parliament, they should have never stood in the first place. When an MP decides they can’t be bothered with the full term, it’s like a contractor walking off the job half-done.”

“Jonathan Coleman is a particularly bad example, sticking to his job for less than six months before slinking off to the private sector, leaving taxpayers to fund a million-dollar by-election in Northcote.”

“It appears Coleman only ran for Parliament to be in Government. But that’s not how Parliament works. It’s all or nothing. MPs like Coleman need reminding that they serve, first and foremost, the voters who elected them – not their own ambitions.”

“If a candidate isn’t sure if they can commit to three years, they could at least stand as a list MP, preventing a costly by-election.”

“Voters expect their local MP to serve a three-year term, so let’s turn that expectation into a formal contract. At the next election, the Taxpayers’ Union will ask all leading electorate candidates to sign a pledge confirming that, barring unforeseeable circumstances, they will serve taxpayers for a full term.”
ENDS

© Scoop Media