Politics Live Blog - ongoing OLD
Did the PM jump the gun when he ruled out any compromise on Te Pāti Māori MP's suspension?
Labour is suggesting Prime Minister Christopher Luxon made a 'captain's call' and undermined behind-the-scenes negotiations when he ruled out any softening towards the harsh suspensions recommended for three MPs by the privileges committee.
Luxon ruled out any compromise during his post-Cabinet media briefing on Monday, before his caucus met to discuss its approach to the issue on Tuesday morning. The House has to debate and decide whether to accept the privilege's committee report and recommendations released last week which recommended the harshest punishment in Parliament's history for three MPs.
All 123 MPs are able to speak for ten minutes each from about 3.30pm, and can also respond to any proposed amendments. The debate could drag on for a significant length of time and, because of Parliament scheduling, could carry over onto Thursday when the government will be seeking to introduce and pass legislation relating to the May Budget.
Kieran McAnulty, a senior Labour MP, said he had been negotiating with National MPs "in good faith" to find a compromise ahead of what is expected to be a mammoth general debate in the House this afternoon.
MPs may have been seeking to find common ground, and concessions acceptable to both parties, ahead of the public debate.
Chris Bishop, a senior National MP, confirmed there had been negotiations with Labour but rejected that Luxon had "gotten carried away" by ruling out any compromise on Monday. He added senior MPs regularly met "behind the bike shed" to discuss house procedure.
However McAnulty said he thought negotiations had been "going quite well" until Luxon "came out yesterday and said caucus was on the same page and we support the recommendations.
"Well that certainly wasn't the signal I was getting."
He added Luxon had appeared to have made a "captain's call".
"It’s a fact that the caucus hasn’t met and he made the decision on the podium while negotiations were underway between us and the National Party."
Luxon ruled out any compromise during his post-Cabinet media briefing on Monday, before his caucus met to discuss its approach to the issue on Tuesday morning. The House has to debate and decide whether to accept the privilege's committee report and recommendations released last week which recommended the harshest punishment in Parliament's history for three MPs.
All 123 MPs are able to speak for ten minutes each from about 3.30pm, and can also respond to any proposed amendments. The debate could drag on for a significant length of time and, because of Parliament scheduling, could carry over onto Thursday when the government will be seeking to introduce and pass legislation relating to the May Budget.
Kieran McAnulty, a senior Labour MP, said he had been negotiating with National MPs "in good faith" to find a compromise ahead of what is expected to be a mammoth general debate in the House this afternoon.
MPs may have been seeking to find common ground, and concessions acceptable to both parties, ahead of the public debate.
Chris Bishop, a senior National MP, confirmed there had been negotiations with Labour but rejected that Luxon had "gotten carried away" by ruling out any compromise on Monday. He added senior MPs regularly met "behind the bike shed" to discuss house procedure.
However McAnulty said he thought negotiations had been "going quite well" until Luxon "came out yesterday and said caucus was on the same page and we support the recommendations.
"Well that certainly wasn't the signal I was getting."
He added Luxon had appeared to have made a "captain's call".
"It’s a fact that the caucus hasn’t met and he made the decision on the podium while negotiations were underway between us and the National Party."