Labour MP takes to Facebook
Labour.
Jackson was not universally accepted into the fold, however. Christchurch East MP Poto Williams, the party spokesperson on family and sexual violence, recalled comments Jackson made at the height of the Roast Busters scandal, and declared she could not support him as a colleague. An open letter from former MPS Maryan Street, Carol Beaumont and Marian Hobbs called him a ‘‘rape apologist’’.
Jackson and his Radiolive co-host John Tamihere were taken off-air in 2013 for comments about the Roast Busters case, in which a group of young men bragged online about having sex with drunk girls, some of whom were under-age. Jackson and Tamihere suggested the men in the Roast Busters group were up to ‘‘mischief’’ and questioned whether they could be considered rapists if some girls consented.
Jackson’s comments cannot be condoned. Even if he was playing the role of ‘‘devil’s advocate’’ on a radio talkback show, they diminished the seriousness of the issue, blamed the victims and were simply unacceptable. However, Jackson has made repeated apologies since 2013.
A reality of the MMP system is that anyone who wants to be in government will have to work with people with whom they disagree. The days of electable monolithic blocs with a unified message are well behind us. Little knows this, which is why he is working strategically to build a credible front on the Left, allying Labour with the Greens and calling in people like Jackson, who has credibility with Maori. Williams has every right to express her views, and to call out comments she feels condone abuse. But she goes too far. Hiring a PR firm to write a Facebook post saying she cannot support Jackson as a colleague undermines what her boss is trying to do.
Less than two weeks ago, Labour and the Greens staged a joint ‘‘state of the nation’’ event to demonstrate that they were cosily supporting each other and were a credible alternative to National. That will count for nothing if Labour members now take their eye off the main prize and begin arguing among themselves. Williams should consider that loudly telling voters that Labour candidates cannot work together is a step towards making her party unelectable.