One of the reasons MPs aren’t held in very high regard is the low standards of behaviour and language some of them descend to in parliament.
Lockwood Smith has made it quite clear he expects higher standards of behaviour and accountability.
This hasn’t always been appreciated by his colleagues who had to endure lame answers from cabinet minsiters in the previous administration and were aniticiapating giving those people now in opposition a taste of their own medicine.
But Smith has made it quite clear what he expects and yesterday Trevor Mallard was sent out of the house for falling well short of those expectations..
Keeping Stock has the transcript of Hansard which shows what happened.
I give the Speaker full marks for his ruling and his efforts to lift standards.
UPDATE: Whaleoil has the video.
I watched the whole interchange.
Mallard always pushes the boundaries on procedural matters. Mallard’s style is brutal,nasty and blunt. Dr Cullen was equally scything, however he did it in a way that seldom got him into trouible.
Lockwood Smitrh would be the best speaker we have had in the last 30 years.His fairness despite the efforts of both sides is exemplary.He does it with a smile and a light touch.
Margaret Wilson, last speaker, did it with a crowbar and treated the opposition with contempt.Good on Lockwood for not falling to that level.
Neil – well said.
Neil, Happy to agree with your comments as above!
Good to see you have got your computer troubles sorted.
With the spectre of amalgamation looming over Local bodies in Southland and your long association with the Nats I expect they will find you a safe seat in Wellington