MP accused of resource misuse

Labour MP Phil Twyford is meeting the Parliamentary Service following an accusation from ACT leader Rodney Hide about improper use of parliamentary resources.

Mr Hide, who is Minister for Local Government, released a statement today saying he had referred "a member" to the general manager of Parliamentary Service today for using parliamentary resources to promote candidates.

That is understood to be in relation to Labour MP Phil Twyford using office resources to endorse Auckland super city mayoralty candidate Len Brown.

Mr Hide said he wanted to remind MPs that they were prohibited from using resources provided to them as an MP to endorse candidates in local government elections.

"It is vital to maintain local government's democratic independence and to act in accordance with New Zealand's important democratic principles," he said.

"As such, individual MPs should not use their taxpayer provided resources to influence local government elections in any way."

He said he wanted to caution other MPs against "such inappropriate behaviour".

A Labour Party spokeswoman said Mr Twyford was discussing the allegations with Parliamentary Service and he would clarify the situation afterwards.

- NZPA