John Armstrong: Greens' shift makes National the big losers

Phillip Field's apology to fellow MPs lacks conviction. It is an apology made under orders from his Labour bosses.

But it is an apology. It acknowledges that his behaviour has caused concern and may have dented public confidence in Parliament as an institution.

His apology also acknowledges for the first time the unease felt by his Labour colleagues both over the contents of the Ingram report and also at having to put up a united front both inside and outside Parliament in defence of the disgraced MP.

And therein lies the apology's significance.

While the Ingram report does not seem to have damaged Labour, its findings had become a distraction which National was intent on dragging out for as long as possible.

Field's belated apology goes a long way towards helping Labour shut down the whole messy affair.

For that, Labour has the Greens to thank.

Having indicated last week that they would support National's plan to force a select committee inquiry, the Greens executed a swift about-face.

Their willingness to back National wilted as the constraints imposed by Parliament's rules on a select committee inquiry became apparent.

The Greens' co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons had a rethink about how Parliament might express its unhappiness with Field. Over the weekend, she put an offer to Labour. The offer had the double attraction of enabling Labour to dig itself out of a hole with some dignity intact while also avoiding an inquiry.

Field would be the one (finally) paying the price. The deal would see Fitzsimons move an effective censure motion criticising Field and calling on the MP to apologise to Parliament. Field would respond with the required apology.

Fitzsimons' role was pivotal. Without the Greens on board, National would not have the numbers to force an inquiry by Parliament's foreign affairs committee. Without the Greens, National is highly unlikely to get alternative backing from other minor parties to force another select committee to hold an inquiry.

It is difficult to see where National can turn now to continue in its pursuit of the Mangere MP.

Not surprisingly, the Greens copped National's wrath in Parliament yesterday.

It was Mr Field's lucky day. He did not have to deliver his apology. National blocked it, presumably because such "personal explanations"cannot be challenged in the House and allowing him to make it would have restricted its ability to question his behaviour.

National also blocked Fitzsimons' censure motion, accusing the Greens of being complicit in Labour's efforts to avoid a further inquiry into Field.

National is still pressing for a formal inquiry - which the Prime Minister steadfastly continues to refuse. Denied a privileges committee hearing, it can only keep trying to persuade the relevant Government departments to investigate the leads in the Ingram report.

To rub salt into the wounds, Labour's offer to allow National to debate its motion of no confidence in Speaker Margaret Wilson had strings attached.

Leader of the House Michael Cullen offered time during this week's Imprest Supply debate or the Wednesday general debate. A special debate would have forced Labour to debate it. Dr Cullen's offer meant Labour could ignore the motion and talk about something else entirely.

National's spurning of Dr Cullen's offer leaves the motion sitting on Parliament's order paper unlikely to be ever debated.

National could have claimed a victory yesterday. It could have claimed its pressure had finally forced Field to shift from his initial claim that he had been exonerated to having to apologise to Parliament and being censured into the bargain.

But National could not raise its sights beyond the parliamentary bear-pit where it appeared to have been outmanoeuvred. It consequently looked the loser.