MPs have voted not to hold a by-election in Epsom and cast some accusations around in the process.
Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee said no writ should be issued to the replace John Banks as the General Election would be held within six months.
Brownlee said Banks resignation was sparked by a court case which came from the former ACT MP’s recall of donations in the Auckland mayoralty, but there was some irony the debate was being held with many stories about Labour not declaring donations were about to become public and Labour Leader David Cunliffe forgetting about some of his actions.
Brownlee said he made the comments as he was sure Opposition MPs would attack the character of Banks and it would be a matter of the pot calling the kettle black.
The debate was interrupted with MPs questioning just what could and could not be debated, though it was ruled it was a robust and wide-ranging debate.
Labour’s David Parker said it was a sad day, but a just day and it was wrong for Brownlee to spray accusations around. Banks had not declared donations which he said he did not know about, but the court ruled he did.
“He lied about his donations… I can say that now,” Parker said.
Parker spent much of his speech recalling the election of Banks and the infamous Tea Party deal.
The motion passed on a voice vote just before the dinner break.
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