Audrey Young: Political editor on fallout

Auditor-General Kevin Brady has stuck to his guns and found parties unlawfully spent just over $1 million last election.

Speaker Margaret Wilson has devised a voluntary solution that puts the onus and the heat directly where it belongs - on the parties.

Labour held its position until today for maximum impact and will pay the money back.

But Michael Cullen's endorsement of a private legal opinion dissenting from the Auditor-General smacks of being a very poor loser.

Labour will quietly applaud the belligerent and litigious New Zealand First leader Winston Peters who is seriously contemplating a legal challenge over his $150,000 of unlawful spending.

The heat will also go on United Future which pulled a crafty stunt yesterday offering to repay $5000 when its debt was closer to $60,000.

The parties have until next Wednesday to tell the Speaker whether they will voluntarily refund the Parliamentary Service or whether they will thumb their noses at the Auditor-General.

They do so at their peril.