Tape exposes negotiations
A newly leaked conversation between National Party leader Simon Bridges, Paula Bennett and embattled MP Jami-lee Ross, shows the trio apparently discussing how to present Ross’ medical leave at the height of speculation the party had a leaker in its midst.
The recording, said to have been made before Bridges announced Ross was going on personal leave, reveals a discussion around how to handle the details of the announcement and negotiate Ross’ quiet exit.
The conversation appears to be couched in the context that Ross had been both ‘‘disloyal and disruptive’’, as well as facing a number of informal complaints from women, at that time, about various forms of harassment.
Deputy leader Bennett is heard offering Ross the choice of having his temporary absence described as either ‘‘medical leave’’ or for ‘‘family reasons’’.
Ross agrees ‘‘medical leave’’ is accurate and Bridges gives Ross an assurance he will not ‘‘badmouth’’ Ross in any capacity if Ross complies with the announcement.
The new recording, released to Newshub’s AM Show – likely from Ross’ camp – does not reveal much additional information about what was being wrangled behind the scenes.
However its release is likely to be another destabilising shot across the bow for Bridges’ leadership, and hints that there is more to come.
Speaking with Stuff, Bridges fired back against claims the Ross announcement was a ‘‘cover-up’’, saying he had to protect the privacy of the women, as well as Ross in the context he was dealing with serious mental health issues.
‘‘As leader, I was dealing with a serious, complex matter and it was actually two or three things: inappropriate conduct, disloyal and disruptive behaviour, but also a series of serious health issues,’’ he said.
He rejected claims the party was protecting Ross at the expense of the women, saying they were ‘‘not being political’’ and given the nature of the competing issues of privacy and health, he was ‘‘never going to be in a position where it was appropriate to talk’’ in open detail about it.
‘‘That hasn’t been the wishes of the women, nor in the interests of Jami-lee,’’ Bridges said.
Yesterday, The AM Show played segments from what it said was 18 minutes of a recorded conversation between Bridges, Bennett and Ross.
The show appeared to have been given an edited version of the recording that did not contain the start of the tape.
Bridges also talks about Ross being ‘‘let off’’ in the recording, apparently alluding to some of the complaints about Ross’ conduct.
In segments of the recording played on the show, Bennett says: ‘‘We are trying to give you the lightest possible way out of this.’’
Ross: ‘‘So it would be for medical reasons.’’
Bennett: ‘‘If that’s what you want. I think either medical or family is your best option.’’ Ross: ‘‘Medical’s true.’’ Bridges: ‘‘Yeah, no that’s right ... there’s no shame in that.’’
Bennett: ‘‘And it means that everyone will back off you too, the media and all that sort of stuff, which I think is important.’’
At one point in the recording Bridges says: ‘‘There are downsides for me, letting you off with what you’ve done, OK, I just want you to understand that.
‘‘But if you take the statement for you, and your behaviour subsequently is good, I will never refer to the matters we’ve talked about ... again.’’
Bridges also reportedly says: ‘‘The truth is Jami-lee we can get through it, and you can get through it, and you can come out the other side if your attitude after the time-out is good and positive, and you can be promoted again.’’
Bridges has confirmed that at the time of the call, four or five women had raised ‘‘matters’’; they weren’t formal complaints at that stage although more serious allegations have been made since.
The ‘‘disloyal and disruptive’’ behaviour was apparently on top of that.
While Ross maintains he did not leak Bridges’ travel expenses, consultancy firm PWC was partway through an inquiry that would later point the finger at Ross – albeit without conclusive evidence.
In the recording, Ross says: ‘‘The stuff around harassing staff, which I reject, that is the worst, and I don’t even know what that is.’’
Bennett: ‘‘Well you do know what the disloyalty stuff is, and that’s been put to you really clearly, and if that was put to caucus that would be enough.’’
Bridges has confirmed that a week before the recorded conversation, he’d had a phone call with Ross to put those matters of ‘‘disloyalty and disruptiveness’’ to him.
Bridges and Bennett spoke to Ross’ specialist, before discussing the outcome in that phone call.
It’s understood that 20 minutes later on October 2, and flanked by his deputy, Bridges announced Ross was taking leave for a few months to deal with personal health issues.
Bridges described the reasons for Ross’ leave as ‘‘potentially embarrassing’’.
However, it is now not clear whether he was referring to Ross’ health issues or the string of allegations from a number of women.