No need for Sepuloni to be stood down

Stuff reports:

Labour leader Andrew Little has stood down his welfare spokeswoman Carmel Sepuloni after her mother was accused of benefit fraud.

Little said there was an obvious conflict of interest.

I don’t think there is a conflict of interest. Sepuloni is not responsible for what her mother does. Unless there is some reason to think Sepuloni knew her mother was allegedly fraudently claiming a benefit, then it is nothing to do with her.

TVNZ reported her mother Beverley Anne Sepuloni faced 19 benefit fraud charges and would appear in the New Plymouth District Court tomorrow.

It said she was accused of claiming the sickness benefit in 2006 when she shouldn’t have and applying for a disability allowance when she shouldn’t.

“It’s alleged she claimed rent subsidies between 2003 and 2010 which she wasn’t entitled to. And she’s also accused of failing to tell welfare officials – for 10-and-a-half years – that she was living with a partner,” TVNZ reported.

The court process needs to take place for Mrs Sepuloni, but I don’t think there is any need for Miss Sepuloni to stand down as spokesperson. At most she just needs to avoid commenting on the specific case.

Little said Sepuloni would be reinstated regardless of the outcome of any charges against her mother.

So why stand down?

One can only have sympathy for Sepuloni. Having a parent charged with an offence would be embarrassing for anyone, let alone when you are an MP. But no one will reasonably think it reflects on her at all.