0 UPDATED: PM responds to Williamson allegations; Williamson resigns

Posted by Blogger Name. Category: Donghua Liu , John Key , Maurice Williamson , NZ Herald

UPDATE: Maurice Williamson has gone by lunchtime; as a Minister, at least. John Key has just announced that he has accepted Williamson's resignation. The PM's office has just released this statement:

PM accepts resignation of Maurice Williamson

Prime Minister John Key today announced he has accepted the resignation of Maurice Williamson as a Minister.

“I have been made aware that Mr Williamson contacted Police some time ago regarding their investigation of Mr Donghua Liu,” Mr Key says.

“Mr Williamson has assured me that he did not in any way intend to influence the Police investigation.

“However, Mr Williamson’s decision to discuss the investigation with Police was a significant error of judgement.

“The independence of Police investigations is a fundamental part of our country’s legal framework.

“Mr Williamson’s actions have been very unwise as they have the potential to bring that independence into question.

“I have advised the Governor General to accept Mr Williamson’s resignation as a Minister.

Mr Key said he will appoint a new Minister outside Cabinet early next week and in the meantime, Nick Smith will act in the Building and Construction portfolio, Nathan Guy in Land Information, and Simon Bridges in Customs and Statistics.

For an MP and Minister of Williamson's experience to have made an error of judgment such as this is inexplicable, and he has no one to blame but himself. John Key would surely have sacked Williamson had he not resigned.

The Prime Minister is fronting a media stand-up at 12.15pm to answer questions on this issue. Stay tuned...

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Stuff is reporting that John Key will make a statement "soon" regarding allegations against Maurice Williamson; check this out:

Prime Minister John Key will make a statement soon about reports cabinet minister Maurice Williamson called a top policeman after a wealthy businessman with close ties to him was arrested on domestic violence charges.
A spokeswoman for Key said there was no comment now but there would be a comment "later this morning".
The New Zealand Herald is reporting the Prime Minister was told by police, under the "no surprises" policy, that Maurice Williamson contacted them about the arrest of Donghua Liu.
Former Labour associate immigration minister Damien O'Connor approved residency for the wealthy Chinese businessman in 2005, against officials' advice.
Williamson lobbied ministerial colleagues heavily on behalf of Liu's citizenship bid.
Liu was arrested in December following a domestic violence incident with his partner and her mother at the Boulevard Hotel. He pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman and assault with intent to injure. 

The full Herald story can be viewed here. If there has been any meddling by Maurice Williamson in the criminal case, he would be in big strife. Rather than speculate however, we will await the PM's announcement, and comment further then.

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