Equality of law

Johan Slabbert’s complaint (Letters, August 6) that Metiria Turei looks like being let off too lightly for her overclaim to a housing allowance years ago is loaded with unconscious irony. As a recent migrant, he would not have been aware of the comparable case, back in 2009, in which Bill English, our current prime minister, was adjudged to be wrongly claiming an out-of-town MP’s Wellington allowance.

He eventually admitted it and paid back improperly claimed taxpayers’ money, as Turei is proposing to do. In this context, Slabbert’s complaint about there being one law for the rich and the other for the poor also looks a bit ironic.

John C. Ross, Palmerston North

Dr Kennedy Graham and David Clendon were belittled and told they were ‘‘bringing the Green Party into disrepute’’ by saying publicly the acknowledged dishonesty of then co-leader Turei was unacceptable.

In reality, it was Turei’s judgement to parade her past dishonesty in a Leftist cause which brought the party into disrepute.

The hard left now holds sway within the Green Party, which in my view is finished as a significant political force unless it again gives primacy to environmental issues.

Bruce Anderson, Christchurch