Bill English MP
National Party Deputy Leader

21 February 2008

Was Mike Williams seeking favours for Labour donor?

National Party Deputy Leader Bill English says confirmation today that Mike Williams raised a diplomatic appointment for a large Labour donor with the Prime Minister needs explaining.

“Is the Labour Party President consulted on all diplomatic appointments?”

Mr English continued questions in Parliament today over the close relationship between Helen Clark, Labour Party President Mike Williams, and the Labour Party’s largest donor.

Mr English also raised questions about the anonymous donation received by New Zealand First, when Leader Winston Peters is the one who decides on diplomatic appointments.

“Helen Clark needs to say whether this is the new standard of her Government.

“The Prime Minister also needs to explain what involvement Mr Williams had in the Sovereign Yachts issue when Mr Glenn has been quoted as saying Sovereign’s boss, Bill Lloyd, was ‘badly dealt by’, but that ‘I got it resolved’ and that it was sorted out ‘through the good services of Mike Williams the Labour Party president who did a mammoth job’.

“What was the ‘mammoth job’ that Mr Glenn is referring to?”

Sovereign Yachts was the flagship of Labour’s failed ‘jobs machine’ and received significant taxpayer support. It was opened by Helen Clark.

Mr English says Labour’s relationship with its largest donor continues to look “very murky indeed”.

ENDS

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