The NZ Herald is reporting today that there will be more correspondence from Owen Glenn shared with the Privileges Committee when it meets today. Winston Peters has however, cancelled all appointments so he can work to clear his Party's reputation.
Suspended Foreign Minister Winston Peters will be fighting for his political life at Parliament's privileges committee this morning as he seeks to convince MPs he did not solicit a $100,000 donation from billionaire Owen Glenn.
But Mr Glenn will appear in person next week at the committee with contradictory testimony, the Herald understands.
Mr Peters' lawyer, Brian Henry, has testified he solicited the donation, and the first the politician knew of it was on July 18 this year.
It will be the second appearance for Mr Peters, the New Zealand First leader, and he is expected to address issues in a letter Mr Glenn sent to the committee last week and a second letter the expatriate has sent.
What interests us is how long the PM is going to be able to run cover for Peters. Yesterday she said she accepted NZ First's claim that it had made a simple administrative error in not declaring a donation. Unfortunately the PM has but one vote and we will be surprised if she will be voting NZ First. We doubt many other New Zealanders will be so willing to believe these lame excuses. And if Owen Glenn's letter today contains interesting new evidence, such as e-mail correspondence, then it will be increasingly difficult for the PM to keep Peters as a Minister, albeit without any portfolios.
