Key opens up about Dirty Politics, Collins resignation Thursday 30 Oct 2014 5:28 a.m. 1 Comment Prime Minister John Key (Getty) Prime Minister John Key (Getty) John Keys former staffer Jason Ede quit working for the National Party the night Nicky Hagers book Dirty Politics was published, its been revealed. A revised biography of the Prime Minister, written by John Roughan, sheds new light on the events around Mr Hagers book and its impact on the election campaign. Portrait of a Prime Minister was published in June. The revised edition has a new chapter in it – The Campaign from Hell. READ MORE: Nicky Hager book shows Nationals dirty politics Mr Ede featured in Mr Hagers book as a close contact and confidant of blogger Cameron Slater, and it was alleged they colluded in constructing attacks on Nationals opponents. Jason had a lot of jobs, Mr Key said in an interview for the new chapter. Part of it was dealing with bloggers, but hed go off and do things for the party too, such as the Mana by-election. Mr Roughan writes that Mr Ede had worked full time for the National Party since the start of the year, but it ended that night. Mr Ede was one of Mr Keys advisers before he began working for the party. He dropped out of sight several weeks ago but it wasnt previously known when he quit the job. Mr Key confirmed to Mr Roughan that he was at times in contact with Slater. I dont know him really, Mr Key said. He used to turn up at the odd event... occasionally Cameron would text me but it wasnt anything like my relationship with David Farrar (Nationals pollster who writes Kiwiblog), I talk to Farrar all the time. The chapter covers Mr Keys state of mind during the campaign, which was disrupted by Mr Hagers book and Kim Dotcoms entry as the founder of the Internet Party. As the media focused on the allegations in Mr Hagers book and Mr Dotcoms antics, Mr Key realised he was getting an entirely different feedback from voters on the campaign trail. He was often mobbed by people wanting to have their photo taken with him. It felt strong... the campaign felt like two different solar systems, one running in the media and the one I was seeing, Mr Key said. One of the journos wrote that I did walkabouts every day just to keep my spirits up because they could feel it too - some of them were saying man, dont these people read the papers. Key describes Collins resignation Mr Key also described for the first time the circumstances around Judith Collins resignation as Justice Minister. READ MORE: Collins resigns as minister He said it started on the day an email from Mr Slater surfaced. In it, he told a colleague Ms Collins was gunning for Serious Fraud Office head Adam Feeley. Mr Keys chief of staff, Wayne Eagleson, called the Prime Minister on a Friday night and said we have a bit of a problem. Mr Key decided to sleep on it. Next morning I got up about five oclock, had a shower, then read it through again and I thought `No, Mr Key said. I sent Judith a text saying, can you give me a ring. She called and I said `this thing has turned up and weve got to deal with it. I read it to her. Eventually, she said `what do you want me to do? I said, Well, I think I have no option but to have an inquiry into it. She said Ill have to resign then. I said Yep. Nicky Hagers house raided by police Nicky Hager donations top $40,000 Nicky Hager takes police to court over Dirty Politics raid Read more: 3news.co.nz/nznews/key-opens-up-about-dirty-politics-collins-resignation-2014103005#ixzz3HZ49VDf4
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 19:38:32 +0000
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