With explanations from the PM and Owen Glenn not stacking up, National's Deputy Leader Bill English has asked further questions:
Was Labour telling the truth?
National Party Deputy Leader Bill English wants to know why Helen Clark didn’t correct Labour Party president Mike Williams who claimed Owen Glenn had not given her party any financial assistance since the 2005 election.
“Mr Williams was clear. He said Mr Glenn had made no donations since the election. Now it turns out he has. What else is Labour hiding?”
On December 31, Mr Williams defended the New Year’s honour which was awarded to Mr Glenn. He told journalists that Mr Glenn had not helped the Labour Party since 2005.
“Now we know Mr Glenn gave Labour an interest-free loan. This ‘mates-rates’ arrangement is a donation.
“Helen Clark must have been well aware that what Mr Williams said on the public record was not the whole truth. It’s clear that electoral transparency now only applies to other political parties.”
Mr English says Helen Clark’s now offered up three different stories on the offer of a Cabinet posting for Mr Glenn.
“First, a spokesperson said it didn’t happen. Today, Helen Clark’s offered two more excuses: that she doesn’t remember, and if it did happen, it was a joke.”
Mr English is referring to interviews today where Helen Clark said, ‘he may have been one of dozens of people who spoke to me on a long evening. Now any conversation would have been social, it would have been light-hearted, certainly not associated with money’.
“That is quite a different story to the one offered yesterday when ‘it didn’t happen’.
“Helen Clark must clarify Labour’s position. Why has her story changed? If her party got a loan from Mr Glenn, why didn’t she correct Mike Williams’ dissembling on December 31?”
Note, both Glenn and the PM seem to be talking about a common joke. So does this mean it did happen or it didn't happen?
If the TV news channels don't pick this up now serious questions will need to be raised.
