Field affair moves towards MP inquiry

Taito Phillip Field

Labour looks set to have to bow to a select committee inquiry into Taito Phillip Field and faces the embarrassing prospect of all political parties ganging up against it to support the further probe into his conduct.

It is already under siege on the issue, with National leader Don Brash lodging a rare notice of motion of no confidence in Speaker Margaret Wilson - effectively challenging her impartiality.

It followed her ruling there were no grounds to have unresolved issues raised in the Noel Ingram, QC, report sent to the privileges committee.

Police confirmed yesterday they are considering a complaint alleging corruption under the Crimes Act against Mr Field laid with them by Wanganui man Frank Respinger, who has filed several complaints against political parties or politicians on various issues, most recently on Labour's electoral spending.

Following Ms Wilson's ruling, National, Act and the Greens have all advocated the need for an inquiry by a different select committee and United Future yesterday indicated it would be likely to support such a move.

New Zealand First and the Maori Party refused to rule it out, saying they had yet to consider the matter.

National deputy leader Gerry Brownlee said he believed the foreign affairs committee, which has the power to look into immigration matters, was the most likely avenue.

National and the Greens hold a majority on the committee, one reason National is focusing on it.

But if other parties swung in behind them, other options would open up.

Labour MPs privately accept the Ingram report is damning for Mr Field, but are intent on closing the issue down as the MP holds the Mangere seat and can't be forced from Parliament unless convicted of an offence which carries a sentence of two years or more.

If he left Labour and became an independent MP, the Government would lose the one-vote majority it holds.

A spokesman for Helen Clark said last night Labour would not support calls for further taxpayers' money to be spent on another inquiry.

She described National's no confidence motion as "petty and vindictive".

Leader of the House Michael Cullen said the ruling was "impeccable in terms of the standing orders, and clearly was taken under advice from those who are experts in the area".

"There seems to be an inability to understand that the Speaker has to follow the standing orders and can't make up things just to suit people because they'd like to have a go one way or another."

Motions of no confidence are hardly ever debated in Parliament as they are usually blocked by the Government.

But Dr Cullen, who said the last such debate was in 1985, offered National a slot in the general debate next week (with no vote taken) or a chance to vote yesterday.

National wants both a vote and a debate. It would, however, lose the vote if it were taken.

The last no confidence motion was lodged by NZ First leader Winston Peters against former Speaker Jonathan Hunt in September 2004, but it sat on the order paper without debate until it expired.

Labour sources said yesterday the party was happy to debate the issue as the ruling was correct and also because they believed Dr Brash - not known for his strength in the House - would have difficulty scoring a hit.

Mr Brownlee said a police complaint was still an option for National.

The controversy

* Labour MP Taito Phillip Field was accused of using cheap labour on his house in Samoa in exchange for helping a Thai man with immigration.

* A report last week cleared him of any conflict of interest but said the Thai man was underpaid and appeared to be working "out of gratitude or some sense of obligation" for immigration assistance.

* Other parties may now force Labour to hold a select committee inquiry into Mr Field's actions.

* Police are also considering a complaint against Mr Field which alleges corruption under the Crimes Act.