Tag: Trevor Mallard

National has sent a letter to Trevor Mallard outlining their concerns over his handling of Question Time in Parliament. After all, they don't call it the bear pit for nothing. If Government MPs misbehave, the Opposition picks up extra questions. * Simon Bridges says 'no evidence' one of his MPs called Jacinda Ardern 'stupid little girl' * Paula Bennett storms out But after nine years in Government, much of which was spent staring down an increasingly hostile and rowdy Labour opposition across the House, National can probably feel justifiably aggrieved about the umpire changing the rules. If an MP had been kicked out every time someone heckled during the last term of Parliament, the debating chamber would have been empty most days. National is also grappling with the abrupt loss of power and access to officials and information that comes as a right when you are in Government. Which is why resentment has been brewing that Mallard's new rules are an attempt to screw the scrum in the new Government's favour. The mystery of the "stupid little girl" interjection has gone around the world but no one has owned up, and audio of the moment when it is supposed to have been said is almost indecipherable. Things will only get uglier from here on in unless Mallard agrees to a rapprochement. - Stuff