Gilmore resigns

Aaron Gilmore has announced:

“It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I announce my intention to resign from Parliament.

“After taking counsel from colleagues and family in recent days, I have decided that to stay on in Parliament would only serve to cause my loved ones more upset, and cause me undeserved further stress.

“I have made mistakes. I am human. But the attacks on my integrity have started taking a toll on those around me and this is unfair on them

“I also want to make clear my support for the National Party and Prime Minister John Key remains unwavering.”

“Finally, I want to apologise once again to all those people who I’ve let down with my behaviour. I’m determined to learn from those lessons as I continue my life with more grace and humility.

“I will seek to make a final statement in Parliament on Tuesday.”

It is the right decision for both himself and for the Government.

In the past week the Government has just had a successful float of Mighty River Power, a massive drop in unemployment, an improvement in the financial statements, a top 10 rating from Stand and Poors, an Auckland Housing Accord and this week have their Budget. It is intolerable that so much good news was getting drowned out by this issue.

Congratulations to Claudette Hauiti who will be joining Paul Foster-Bell as a new List MP later this month.