Private lives now out of order

The Press reports that the Speaker, Margaret Wilson, plans to crack down on references to MPs private lives in Parliament.

Wilson said it had become clear that the punch-up between Mallard and Henare had come about because of the general conduct of MPs in the House, and she had instructed her officials to be stricter on behaviour.

“Offensive or unbecoming references to members’ private affairs have become all too common in the chamber. They create disorder and I and the other presiding officers intend to deal with them very firmly in future,” Wilson said.

Now I support the Speaker 100% in her decision to crack down, but I do wonder about the timing.

Couldn’t the Speaker have decided to crack down after Mallard and Benson-Pope started referring to Don Brash’s alleged affair in the House?  That would have been a sensible time to crack down.

Wouldn’t any of the several dozen times a Labour or NZ First MP has referred disparagingly to Nick Smith’s stress leave have been a good time to crack down?

Better late then never though.