Open warfare has broken out after National criticised Speaker Trevor Mallard's handling of Parliament and criticised him for telling the media a National MP had described PM Jacinda Ardern as a "stupid little girl" – a comment it says has never been proven.
National's shadow Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee has written to the Speaker, saying National's confidence in him was "significantly shaken".
Brownlee questioned whether the Speaker had told media a National MP had called Ardern a "stupid little girl" in Parliament earlier this month, a comment that did not appear to be heard by anybody else and could not be heard on Parliament TV.
Mallard has now confirmed to the Herald he did tell a journalist he had heard that comment. "I was asked by a journalist what the comment was. I answered."
On May 9 when the "stupid little girl" comment was said to be made in Parliament, Mallard had called for a National MP to apologise for a "very sexist remark" but nobody owned up and Mallard would not repeat the comment when Brownlee asked what it was.