19 Oct 2018

Bridges grilled by reporters at A&P Show visit

From Morning Report, 6:10 am on 19 October 2018

The National Party and its executive have yet to respond to claims its president brokered a confidentiality agreement that stopped a woman speaking out about harassment allegations against Jami-Lee Ross. Several sources have told RNZ News the woman signed an agreement arranged by the president, Peter Goodfellow, under which she was not to speak publicly about Mr Ross' conduct. The claims pre-date Simon Bridges' leadership. Meanwhile Simon Bridges says his caucus is united behind him and the party's looking forward to retaining the Botany seat when Jami-Lee Ross quits Parliament and forces a by-election. Mr Bridges took questions from reporters when visiting the Hawke's Bay A&P Show in Hastings on Thursday. He was asked if he could be certain Mr Ross has nothing on tape that would incriminate Mr Bridges in any wrongdoing.