A shattering day in the glass House

Politicians have this week received a shattering reminder that the House in which they cast stones is made of glass.

Insults between MPs are nothing new, but Trevor Mallard and David Benson-Pope's hectoring of National leader Don Brash last week and the aftermath - Dr Brash taking leave to spend time with his family to try to resolve marital difficulties - prompted people to ask if Parliament had reached a new low.

National thinks so. Senior whip Lindsay Tisch said the Labour MPs' comments were "despicable".

Labour views the interjections as a heated response to a heated situation, in which constant National barracking made things boil over.

United Future leader Peter Dunne said recent behaviour in the House was the worst he had seen.

"This place has a habit of descending to these levels every now and again and human beings being human beings I don't think this will be any different in the future," Mr Dunne said.

"I think the public's message has been very strong and I think that those who ignore that do so at their peril."

Act leader Rodney Hide - no stranger to firing accusations at fellow MPs - says he has always got as good as he has given.

"In Parliament I've been accused of associating with drug dealers, prostitutes, criminal gangs, ripping off people for $400,000 ... it certainly can get thrown around on all sides of the House."

But Mr Hide said Mr Mallard and Mr Benson-Pope had crossed the line, and he agreed with Mr Dunne that there would be a response in the public opinion polls.

"You are going to see public opinion deal with this because people don't take kindly to what Trevor Mallard said, and David Benson-Pope ... I think they'll feel the sting of a public backlash."

Sir Robert Muldoon's impugning of Labour MP Colin Moyle in 1976 is widely regarded as the low point of parliamentary mudslinging.

Today most speculation on MPs' personal lives happens in Parliament's bars, cafes and in the press gallery rather than the debating chamber.

But Mr Mallard may have opened the floodgates.

On Radio Live on Wednesday, former MPs John Tamihere and Willie Jackson speculated about how many MPs were having affairs - allegedly as many as 20 - and suggested some senior Labour MPs may be nervous about scrutiny.

Mr Tisch said anything Mr Mallard knew about Dr Brash's personal life should never have been discussed publicly, let alone bellowed out during question time.

"We said it was a new low," he said. "Our approach is very clear: we ask questions, we expect to get answers, and we don't want these sideshows.

"Any attacks on members is completely unacceptable."

New Zealand First whip Peter Brown said the public believed MPs should live orderly, law-abiding, decent lives.

"I think that's what the public expects of us," Mr Brown said.

"I can't stand hypocrites ... but I do understand that from time to time things go wrong in people's private lives which really shouldn't be put out to public scrutiny.

"I think we should always endeavour to play the ball and not the man, but those who preach integrity should live by it.

"Sometimes, that might be a bit tough for a few of them."


Views on the leader

Aucklanders had mixed views in response to the following questions:
"Do you think Don Brash's alleged affair has affected his ability/suitability to lead the National Party/country? Should politicians' private lives be off limits?"


* Angela Smith
General manager, 30, Blockhouse Bay
What happened doesn't really matter. In the past, affairs haven't affected politicians. It strengthened Bill Clinton. Once you put yourself in the public eye, your private life will never be private.

* Kyaw Zay Yait
Consultant, 31,New Windsor
It won't affect his ability to lead. It's a personal issue. In some ways politicians should be careful what they do in private, but we shouldn't judge their ability on their private lives. None of us are perfect.

* Bob Narev
Solicitor, 70, Orakei
I don't think the allegations have affected his ability to lead. They might have affected people's perception as to whether he should be a leader or not. Politicians' private lives should be kept private provided they don't affect the public.

* Winter Pulham
Maori services co-ordinator, 24, Waiheke Island
I think this will affect his ability to lead the party. You have to have a degree of integrity to lead a political party. It's an imperative characteristic. I think politicians are entitled to some privacy as long as there is a degree of integrity in their private lives.

* Sian Wichman
Student, 15, Kingsland
It's his personal life. Are people not allowed to have personal lives? Private lives should be kept private. Most people wouldn't want their private lives to be invaded.

* Dan Lacey
Cafe manager, 23,Mt Eden
It could be the beginning of the end for him, but I thought the last election was the end of him, and he's still here. When you step into the public eye, you need to accept that your private life will be invaded. There is a responsibility for politicians to keep their private lives clean.

* Lisa Payne
Consultant, 37, Devonport
I think these allegations will affect his image. However, it won't affect his ability to lead. If he is doing a good job, then people should be able to see above what he does in private. But integrity was a key message of his, so it flies in the face of that.