16 Oct 2018

Jami-Lee Ross' behaviour 'intolerable' - Judith Collins

From Morning Report, 6:40 am on 16 October 2018

National's senior MPs and former contenders for the party's leadership are throwing their support behind Simon Bridges, ahead of a meeting this morning of the party caucus. MPs meet at half past ten this morning and are expected to vote on the future of Botany MP Jami-Lee Ross. The fourth term MP made explosive accusations about his leader yesterday, taking to Twitter a short time before Mr Bridges outed him as the leaker of his travel expenses. He denied being the leaker, while accusing Mr Bridges of unlawful behaviour - as well as having low personal poll ratings. Mr Bridges repeatedly said Mr Ross is wrong and merely "lashing out". Senior MPs including Judith Collins, Mark Mitchell and Maggie Barry are firmly behind Mr Bridges, with Ms Barry calling Mr Ross a disloyal disgrace and a flawed and isolated individual. Judith Collins told RNZ political reporter Gia Garrick she's never seen anything quite like this.