Scoop has a feature on what has happened to our ex-MPs since their sudden de-election last September. Some have gone back to work, a few of the older ones are enjoying a holiday or retirement, and many are still involved in politics, holding internal party positions.
I was particularly interested in learning what had happened to Matt Robson, and I'm pleased to hear that he's gone back to the law, and will be involving himself in the Ahmed Zaoui case. Good to see that some people are still fighting the good fight, even if from outside Parliament...
I was concerned to see the number of right-wing ex-MPs who continue to manipulate public opinion through their media work. Who pays for Muriel Newman's "think tank", I wonder. A bunch of fat cats who aren't paying any tax is my bet.
ReplyDeleteI, too was interested to see what had happened to Matt Robson.
ReplyDeleteI used to walk past his base on Ladies Mile in Ellerslie everyday and felt a bit sad for him after seeing his sign taken off the street.
Given her rabid moralism, I'd say a certain male-dominated secretive religious sect, perhaps?
ReplyDeleteCraig Y.
I reckon Muriel’s backers are the same crew that started the neo-liberal revolution and want to complete their unfinished business. Rich right wing business people, Christian and secular. ACT Party founders. The Business Roundtable. Look at the links between these guys:
ReplyDeleteAlan Gibbs, Chairman of the Trust which funds the activities of the Centre for Resource Management Studies, which is directed by Owen McShane. Along with Doug Myers, Gibbs is a Patron and Trustee of Civitas: The Institute for the Study of Civil Society. This UK neoliberal think tank was formerly known as the Institute of Economic Affairs.
http://www.civitas.org.uk/books/about.php#patrons
The Institute of Economic Affairs funded the publication of the book promoted by Don Brash in his guest column posted on the NZCPD website today.
http://www.nzcpd.com/guest9.htm
The book is by former banker and journalist James Bartholomew and is titled: “The Welfare State We’re In”. An article on the promotional website explains how the IEA came to the rescue after the book was rejected by numerous publishers:
“Even then there were obstacles. The original concept was for a book that was readable and approachable. Part of that meant pictures – and not just a ghetto of pictures in the middle but pictures integrated In the text. That meant a higher quality of paper must be used, a picture researcher must be hired and a designer would have to do a lot of work. All that cost money – and for a book which might sell only 1500 copies. The publisher was unlikely to wear it. But meanwhile John Blundell, director general of the IEA, had seen the first draft and become an enthusiastic supporter of the book. After various discusssions with Politico’s and the author, the trustees of the IEA agreed to “get behind” the book. They would buy 2,500 copies and send them free to MPs, active members of the House of Lords, teachers of economics and supporters of the IEA. This bulk purchase put money into the hands of the publisher which was therefore able to put more into the production (and promotion) of the book.”
http://www.thewelfarestatewerein.com/archives/zzzzzzzzzzzz/about_james_bartholomew/index.php
I think the NZCPD is one of the ways in which the new right is trying to keep its agenda visible. Alister Barry wrote about their strategy last August:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0508/S00023.htm