21 March 2016 MEDIA STATEMENT

Defamation settlement embarrassing for Key

John Key’s taxpayer funded out-of-court settlement with photographer Bradley Ambrose is a costly embarrassment and he should have the decency to apologise to both Mr Ambrose and the taxpayer, Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little says.

“Night after night John Key smeared Bradley Ambrose’s name on television in the middle of a high-profile political campaign. By attacking an innocent New Zealander for political gain he made it difficult for Mr Ambrose to get work and undermined his character. He has yet again demeaned the office of Prime Minister.

“This incident did not happen while he was undertaking his Prime Ministerial role. He was a party leader having cups of tea with a coalition partner and for some time afterwards he continued the slur on Mr Ambrose.

“John Key should do the decent thing and apologise to both Bradley Ambrose and the New Zealand taxpayers who have been left having to foot the bill. If anyone can afford to pay for a ‘small cash settlement’ it’s John Key,” Andrew Little says.
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