Clarkson takes first hit from Speaker

Margaret Wilson

Speaker Margaret Wilson, yet to rule on a privileges complaint against Cabinet minister Trevor Mallard for allegedly assaulting National MP Bob Clarkson, has admonished the Tauranga MP for his role in the incident.

Last Thursday, Mr Clarkson claimed Mr Mallard had hit him around the ears with one or more manila folders. Mr Clarkson had earned the ire of Government MPs by displaying a sign which said "Corrupt people" and had an arrow pointing towards Labour MPs.

Yesterday, the Speaker wrote to Mr Clarkson about the sign incident and also a subsequent radio interview in which he said he would wear a crash helmet in the debating chamber.

"Your actions are both contrary to the standing orders and bringing the House into disrepute," she wrote.

"I have in the past applied the standing orders leniently because you are a new member. In future I shall not show such leniency."

In the House, National deputy leader Gerry Brownlee questioned Ms Wilson about her letter and asked if she had also written to senior Labour MPs who had also used signs in the debating chamber.

Ms Wilson said MPs from both sides of the House used signs from time to time, but Mr Clarkson's sign was in a totally different category.

Mr Clarkson said he was "obviously jesting" when he made the crash helmet comment.

He said that since the incident two members of the public had called him offering to corroborate his story.

However, he said, he was prepared to let the incident blow over and be forgotten if he received an apology from Mr Mallard.

"All I wanted out of him was an apology, and that was it... until I read where it said that Bob Clarkson thinks he's a real Kiwi bloke or something like that, and he's acting like a baby. The moment he said that I thought, 'Well stuff you'," Mr Clarkson said.

"When you make a mistake you should stand up, put your hand in the air, say sorry, and hope you don't get fined or whatever the appropriate thing is, and I would have accepted that. It's as simple as that."

A spokesperson for Mr Mallard said he was declining to comment while the Speaker was considering the complaint, and he did not want to undermine that by commenting through the media.