Latest FromJohn Armstrong on politics
![John Armstrong: No one the wiser on mystery video](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
John Armstrong: No one the wiser on mystery video
Shearer's line of questioning in the House sought to elicit information from the Prime Minister rather than make political points, writes John Armstrong.
![John Armstrong: PM suffers his hardest blow so far](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
John Armstrong: PM suffers his hardest blow so far
Despite John Key's insistent denials, it now seems to be the case that he actually was briefed by the GCSB on its eavesdropping on Kim Dotcom at a session in February, writes John Armstrong.
![Shearer's shake up is sorely needed](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Shearer's shake up is sorely needed
David Shearer's reshuffle of his Labour team will be on the radical side, writes John Armstrong. "It has to be. His current front-bench is simply not cutting it."
![John Armstrong: An apology that could easily backfire](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
John Armstrong: An apology that could easily backfire
Paul Neazor's report on the unlawful bugging of Kim Dotcom is not so much a whitewash as washed out, writes John Armstrong
![John Armstrong: A farce upon farce reaching to the highest level](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
John Armstrong: A farce upon farce reaching to the highest level
John Armstrong writes, that of all the working relationships within a government, none is more vital than that between the prime minister and his or her minister of finance.
![John Armstrong: PM needs to come clean on bugging](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
John Armstrong: PM needs to come clean on bugging
Well, the Prime Minister would try to downplay this rather large embarrassment, wouldn't he? Especially given he is the responsible minister, writes John Armstrong
![John Armstrong: The farce grows with every day](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
John Armstrong: The farce grows with every day
John Armstrong says the Prime Minister's defence of John Banks looks more ridiculous by the day. The risk is that even more damaging material will seep out.
![John Armstrong: Bloggers don't let the facts get in the way](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
John Armstrong: Bloggers don't let the facts get in the way
Press gallery journalists generally treat the bile and invective directed at them by portions of the blog-a-tariat as an unwelcome and unfortunate byproduct of an otherwise exciting and intellectually challenging job.
![John Armstrong: Govt realises sale delay is not defeat](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
John Armstrong: Govt realises sale delay is not defeat
National will have to eat some humble pie in pushing back the float of Mighty River shares. But not that much.
![John Armstrong: Parliament's ref makes wrong calls](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
John Armstrong: Parliament's ref makes wrong calls
Lockwood Smith is usually devoted to lifting parliamentary standards. But yesterday he had an absolute shocker.