United Future MP Gordon Copeland is set to quit United Future over the anti-smacking bill.
The decision leaves the government in a precarious situation. The recent defection of Taito Philip Field and now Copeland leaves the government in a true minority.
It is understood the MP is planning to start a new political party with a former one-term United Future MP Larry Baldock.
The catalyst for his departure is the anti-smacking bill, which will get its final reading on Wednesday. Both men vehemently oppose the amendment watering down the bill.
Copeland will stay on as an independent
Earlier this weka another United Future MP, Judy Turner, said she would oppose the anti-smacking bill when it had its final reading in parliament.
While she believes the compromise amendment reinforcing discretionary powers for police was a good move she is concerned it doesn't also apply to Child Youth and Family.
Turner says not enough has changed at CYF to reassure her parents are safe from prosecution for lightly smacking their children.
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The new party that Baldock and Copeland are said to be starting sounds like a very good thing. At last some principled politicians, not this vote-winning, socialist hugging National party, or the weak-kneed Peter Dunne.
2 comments:
principled my ass, against the right for two consenting same-gendered adults to have sex, or the right for someone to sell their body, but for the smacking of children. what principle? more like philosopher-kings who want to tell us what's right and wrong
Re: your first point, Gordon is not against the right for adults to do this, but I believe he would be opposed to the practice.
68% to 83% of Kiwis are unhappy with this new piece of law
I was out again today, with a group of mates and we gathered hundreds of signatures for the Citizens Initiated Referendum (CIR) to force a referendum on the anti-smacking-law, - as was the case last week, at least 9 out of 10 people were happy to sign.
Everyone in New Zealand should be happy to sign the CIR.
Democracy.
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