Candidates are not MPs

Felicity Ross at the Taranaki Daily News reports:

New Plymouth Labour Party candidate Andrew Little has been barred from joining party leader Phil Goff when he meets Taranaki’s Winz boss tomorrow.

The refusal is because he is not yet an MP.

Little yesterday slammed the Government for refusing to allow him to meet Work and Income regional commissioner Gloria Campbell, saying it made a mockery of the concept of an independent, neutral public service.

Oh what nonsense. Once Andrew becomes and MP and rolls Phil, he’ll be able to meet senior WINZ staff. But he is just a candidate with the same constitutional status as the candidate for the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party.

I know the left think the Government exists for them, but WINZ is not there to give Andrew (or any candidate) photo opportunities.

Access was denied by Social Development and Employment Minister Paula Bennett who said Work and Income staff didn’t need the distraction of someone trying to win votes.

“I won’t tolerate politicking when Work and Income staff are so busy and doing such a necessary job, ” Bennett said.

“However, the Leader of the Opposition is an obvious exception and Mr Goff should feel free to visit the New Plymouth regional office if he wishes to attend on his own.”

Maybe Andrew is just mad that he is not yet Opposition Leader?

He said the past Labour government had never prevented anyone of any political stripe from meeting a senior public servant or regional commissioner.

Oh that must be a line from a George Orwell novel. The last Labour Government was ruthless about doing it – in fact off memory they even blocked MPs – not just candidates.