Labour MP attends Mongrel Mob election hui

The Herald reports:

Taieri MP Ingrid Leary went to a Mongrel Mob election hui in Dunedin at the weekend but says she thought it was an Electoral Commission meeting and she “in no way” condones the actions of the Mongrel Mob.

With law and order a highly visible issue leading up to the election, the National Party is attacking her attendance, saying it shows the pay-off from Labour’s funding of a Mongrel Mob-associated rehabilitation programme.

“The fact the Mongrel Mob wants to keep National out of government is the best possible endorsement of our approach to law and order,” National’s police spokesman Mark Mitchell said in a statement. …

Leary confirmed that she had been to the meeting but didn’t realise it was a Mongrel Mob hui.

“I thought it was an Electoral Commission meeting encouraging enrolment.

Who amongst us hasn’t mistaken a Mongrel Mob hui for an Electoral Commission meeting.

It was beyond doubt a genuine mistake, and in no way was a Labour MP attending a Mongrel Mob hui to encourage them to vote Labour. I mean there is no way she could have realised it was a Mob hui, because those in attendance would look identical to those attending an Electoral Commission meeting. It’s not as if you wear a patch or anything … oh wait …