Things to do in Dipton when you’re dead

Well, I suppose you could resurect yourself.

As Sir Roger Douglas has done, claiming $44,000 in expenses for an overseas holiday as his “entitlement”.

Oh, and as Don Brash and Christine Rankin have resurrected themselves.

And, yes, when Sir Double Dipton finally “retires” (and it might be sooner rather than later, given his accommodation expenses rort) he too will be eligible for 90% of his overseas travel costs being met by the taxpayer. Forever!

Sir Double Dipton says:

But the minister says Dipton remains his home and he intends to return there when he leaves Parliament.

Better get the house in order, then Bill. Including evicting the current tenants, which you need only 42 days to do under the appalling lack of residential tenure provided by the Residential Tenancies Act.

It might be sooner, rather than later, so better get moving on it Bill.

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Key wears slippery jandals – flip,flop, …splat!

A couple of weeks ago Danyl blogged at the Dim-Post:

Senior National Party staff members were in damage control last night after an embarrassing gaffe by yet another MP. …

Mr Key made a brief appearance before the media this afternoon, flanked by National Party communications manager Kevin Taylor and chief policy adviser Grant Johnston. A sheepish looking Key apolgised to Taylor and Johnston and to the public for the confusion he had caused. National Party insiders say that Key received a furious dressing down from Johnston and Taylor, as well as National chief of staff Wayne Eagleson.

Well, I thought Danyl was just taking the piss back then. But it has actually happened, as JafaPete revealed today (and The Standard also blogged on). Key has had to backtrack on his own statement, presumably under the advice that Peter Dunne’s vote may be crucial post-election.

As JafaPete said:

[Key]…appearing to announce in off the cuff remarks that National would axe the commission.

“He said there was “a ton of money being spent on it”, and he would rather give the money to non-government organisations delivering front-line services.”

Someone must have reminded him later that he might need the suport of Peter Dunne and the United Future Party, whose baby it is (its establishment was a key condition of the Party’s support agreement with Labour after the 2002 election).

Today we have the inevitable backtrack:

“… National would merely “rebalance” the commission and he expected United Future to find the changes acceptable. [Key] refused to comment on the details of National’s policy, but said there was still a place for advocacy for families somewhere in the bureaucracy.”