Wednesday, Oct 17, 2018
Since Sept 27, 1879
Retail $1.80 Home delivered from $1.15
THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY
Murran’s Team star on close to the rise kick-off P4
National leader Simon Bridges
P24
Jami-Lee Ross has made an allegation of corruption against his former leader.
Political war of words BY SUSAN SANDYS
SUSAN.S@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ
Rangitata MP Andrew Falloon is standing strong with fellow National Party politicians against rogue MP Jami-Lee Ross. Serious allegations from Ross against party leader Simon Bridges have failed to draw an ounce of support within the party’s caucus, and all MPs were on message yesterday including Falloon. The Rangitata MP came out strongly in support of his party’s leadership when emerging from caucus meetings on the crisis yesterday.
Falloon said Bridges and deputy Paula Bennett had done an incredible job in difficult circumstances, and the alleged lies and leaks from Ross were unacceptable. “We, as a caucus, are going to now draw a line under this. We will be resolutely strong and focused on the things that matter to New Zealanders,” Falloon told the Guardian. “We are not going to tolerate the kind of lies and disloyalty we’ve seen from Jami-Lee Ross, who has put his own interests above the National Party and those of New
Zealanders.” The turmoil resulting from the leak saga had not affected his local role, and since the issue arose he had held 16 constituency clinics in smaller centres across the Rangitata electorate, and worked on more than 100 cases on behalf of locals who had come to see him in his Ashburton and Timaru offices. Ross yesterday alleged corruption in his party’s leader, with the most serious allegation relating to a $100,000 donation which Ross claimed a Chinese businessman offered to the party in May. Giving details in a press confer-
ence at Parliament, Ross alleged Bridges instructed the donation be divided into small donations below the disclosure limit and listed in separate names. Ross said he had a recording of a discussion with Bridges which he would provide to police when he lodged a complaint today. Bridges emerged from the caucus meeting yesterday flanked by senior MPs to announce the vote to expel Ross, but did not come up with any answers on the donation allegations. He said the claims were “baseless” and encouraged Ross to
lodge the complaint with police. Former deputy chair of the National Party for the Rangitata electorate Gwen Clucas said the turmoil in the party resulting from the lone wolf actions of one MP was a “great shame”. “I think he’s behaved appallingly,” Clucas said. However, she did not think it would have long-term repercussions, and Bridges had done the right thing by encouraging Ross to go the police. “I’m sure he obviously would not say that if he wasn’t sure of his grounds.”
Ph 03 307 7900 to subscribe!
A community built around people.
VILLA NOW AVAILABLE Don’t miss out on your opportunity to join the Rosebank village community. To view our facilities at 77 Walnut Avenue, Ashburton contact Sue Prowse 03 308 0111 or sue@rosebankhosp.co.nz
www.rosebankvillage.co.nz