Labour’s apology for defence of corrupt exploitative MP
Well I would blog it, but there isn’t one. Instead we have a range of reactions from Labour that vary from no comment to trying to rewrite history.
What is especially shameful isn’t just that the Labour leadership and other MPs defended a corrupt MP. But they defended an MP who was exploiting the most vulnerable members of society and treating them as close to slave labour. He got his mate the Associate Minister to get them into NZ, and they worked unpaid for weeks or months on end making Field richer.
Field was everything the Labour Party claims to be against. And all his sins and abuses were detailed by Ingram. And even then they defended him. Clark even said he could return to the Ministry one day – compare that to Key on Worth.
Labour Ministers said there was no issue about his having slave labour work for free on his properties as hey were contractors, not employees!! And never at that time was there a denouncing of what Field did – because they needed his vote.
So did we get it last night. No. First Eddie from The Standard tried to rewrite history in a fashion that could make for a George Orwell novel. He said:
Good on Clark for sacking him as a minister when the allegations first came out.
She never sacked him. And even after the Ingram report came out, she refused to rule out he could be re-appointed to the Ministry.
Another liar at The Standard claims I invented the quote from the PM “the only thing of which Taito Philip Field is guilty is being helpful“.
What a disgusting lowlife. A sycophant who won’t criticise his own party for their disgraceful defence of Field, he just invents lies. Here is the full story on 13 September 2005 from Newstalk ZB. It is in the NZPA database and is no #1436468. I don’t expect an apology because I wouldn’t accept one from the anonymous coward.
Helen Clark says Taito Philip Field was making representation on someone’s behalf with regard to Thai man in Samoa The Prime Minister says the only thing of which Taito Philip Field is guilty is being helpful.
The Labour MP and State Minister has become involved in the efforts of a Thai man seeking residency. The man is waiting in Samoa for his application to be processed after he was denied refugee status.
Sunan Siriwan has been given a job by Taito Phillip Field to tile a house in Samoa.
Mr Field has written in support of the man to Associate Immigration Minister Damien O’Connor.
Helen Clark says Mr Field was making representation on someone’s behalf as MPs often do. She says if they cannot do that, they might as well shut the electorate office doors.
Then we have the Labour MPs, instead of their apologists. The Herald reports:
The man who replaced him as MP for Mangere, Sua William Sio, said he acknowledged the court’s decision, but would not comment further.
Wow that is a condemnation. Maybe he held back as his own office staff are under investigation over an alleged immigration scam.
Labour leader Phil Goff said: “It’s disappointing that a parliamentarian was found guilty of that conduct.
“The verdict is an indication that whatever you are in society you are equal under the law … the law has followed its course.”
Disappointing? It is a disgrace. And not a word on Labour’s defence of Field as a man of integrity whose only sin was to work too hard. And not a word of sympathy for Field’s victims – the so called “strugglers” Labour claims to champion.
Stuff reports:
Labour chief whip Darren Hughes said the party acknowledged the verdict, but had no further comment.
Labour have had months to prepare for this verdict, and this is all they can say.
Unless someone from Labour’s parliamentary wing does a sincere apology for their behaviour over Field, the conclusion many people will reach is they are unfit to hold office again, and that their so called concern for the welfare of vulnerable New Zealanders is insincere.