Winston Peters has called plenty of people plenty of names over his many, many years in politics. But he hit rock-bottom this afternoon; Stuff reports:
Open hostilities have erupted between independent MP Brendan Horan and his former boss after NZ First leader Winston Peters today referred to Horan as "Jimmy Saville".
Peters twice made reference to Horan as Saville, the late BBC presenter accused of sex crimes against children.
The first reference followed Horan attempting to table NZ First board meeting minutes which he told Parliament "point to improper use of taxpayer money".
Peters responded: "This House should not be used in that way particularly by the Jimmy Saville of New Zealand politics."
His second reference followed Horan attempting to table a document in Parliament linking Peters to a racehorse.
Horan was denied permission to table the document, prompting Peters to say "Jimmy Saville needs to know better than that".
Horan demanded Peters withdraw and apologise for the remark and said he had taken offence at the "disgusting comments".
Firstly, we need to correct the Stuff subbie who posted this story on Tracy Watkins' behalf; it's Jimmy Savile, not Saville.
But enough pedantry. To compare anyone, let alone another member of Parliament to the serial paedophile that Savile has been exposed posthumously as being is both disgusting and disgraceful. The Rt Hon Member ought be ashamed of himself for indulging in such gutter politics; not just once, but twice.
Winston Peters has plumbed the depths regularly throughout his parliamentary career. Today however was a new low, even by his own standards.
It's time that Winston Peters was put out to pasture, and we hope fervently that will happen four months from today.
